Carra on top 4

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits the team's difficulties at Anfield are damaging their hopes of a top-four finish.


GettyImages
Jamie Carragher knows Liverpool need to start winning more games at Anfield
Carragher, 34 later this month, has had to watch many of those struggles from the bench but started in the Premier League at home to Stoke City and though they are currently unbeaten in 11 fixtures at Anfield, they've also dropped 14 points and trail fourth-placed Chelsea.

"It wasn't the result that we wanted but Stoke are a tough nut to crack and they have proved that a lot of times this season,'' Carragher said. "They have got a very strong back four and unfortunately we couldn't break them down.

"It's been a problem a few times at Anfield this season. We need to sort that out before the end of the season if we want to get to where want to be, which is obviously the top four.''

Winning their last two matches in cup competitions, including victory at Manchester City in midweek, coupled with captain Steven Gerrard signing a contract extension meant the team went into Saturday's game full of confidence.

However, that gradually drained out of them over the course of 90 frustrating minutes in which Liverpool did not really create a decent chance until Dirk Kuyt missed two close-range headers in quick succession in the final 10 minutes.

There was little else in the way of action as the hosts struggled to get to grips with a 3-4-2-1 formation and Stoke gratefully welcomed the confusion and misunderstanding it brought, defending resolutely.

Andy Carroll felt he should have had a penalty after coming on as a 58th-minute substitute when he was fouled by Ryan Shawcross but Liverpool were clutching at straws by that point.

"We had a good result a couple of days ago and we wanted to build on that,'' added Carragher. "It is a bit of a comedown from Wednesday (against City) but we have had that plenty of times this season.

"People have been disappointed with some results but then we have got a result that people don't expect. We are still up there, very close to the top four.''

With City to visit Anfield for the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final trailing 1-0 and Manchester United arriving for an FA Cup fourth round tie in the next fortnight Liverpool's home form will come under more scrutiny.

But Carragher believes they can rise to the occasion against the league's top two sides: "A draw at home against City would be okay - we wouldn't have a problem with that and we would take that now,'' he said.

"You wouldn't want a draw against United, as you wouldn't want to be going to Old Trafford for a replay. I don't think anyone is looking at those games from that point of view. Maybe when you play sides who will come on the front foot, it makes things a bit easier.

"Teams have come here this season and made it difficult but you would expect that City and United will come and try to win the game - that may make it easier for us.''

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1008867/jamie-carragher:-we-may-struggle-for-top-four?cc=5739

It seems then a top 4 slot is the target now that we are half way thru the season, to me tho,we should be aiming higher for possibly 3rd or 2nd, i still believe they are within our reach but, we desparately need a goal scorer, NOW, we cannot expect to get anywhere near 4th at least if no one is bangin them in, and we cannot rely on waiting for either big Andy to suddenly start producing, nor for Kuyt, Bellers, or anyone else up top to start scoring proficiently enough, we have Suarez to come back i know but he cant be expected him to do it on his own either,

after Kenny's disclosure that there will be no new faces brought in may yet  prove a red herring, i'll be extremely surprised if no one comes in, i can't imagine Kenny wanting to go thru the whole season without a prolific striker, i hope i'm wrong but the longer we go without scoring the further we will be to CL spot, we on our day are capable of beating anyone, but we still need to strengthen, and a striker IMO should be our top priority.

   IKWT     YNWA

"People have been disappointed with some results but then we have got a result that people don't expect.

We are still up there, very close to the top four.''




Is actually what he said.

Andy Carroll insists Liverpool are still well in contention for Champions League qualification.

 The New Year fixtures have left the Reds five points adrift of Chelsea, who currently occupy fourth spot.

But the unpredictable nature of this season's Barclays Premier League means Carroll remains full of hope - so long as Liverpool can start replicating their excellent cup form in all fixtures.

"The league games are just as important as the cup games we've got to look forward to because we want to stay in contention at the top end of the table," Carroll told the Matchday Programme ahead of our 0-0 with Stoke.

"The objective is qualifying for the Champions League and we are up there and still in with a great chance of achieving that aim.

"I think it's quite possible, especially when you consider some of the results that we have seen over the Christmas period with the top teams, including Man Utd, losing matches. We're still in there without a doubt.

"We've done really well against the top teams and our away form has been great but in some of the home games we've struggled to put our chances away and I think that's where we need to make sure we start to punish teams.

"Hopefully we can start taking our chances and score more goals as a team.

"There's a great spirit among the lads. In the dressing room, everyone is friends. That shows in training and I think you can see that spirit in the games too."

Meanwhile, Carroll has spoken of his joy at repaying the fans for their support with a goal against Oldham in the FA Cup third round.

"The supporters have been brilliant to me ever since I came here and it was great to hit the back of the net," he added. "Hopefully I can now go on a goalscoring run."

http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/latest-news/carroll-we-can-get-top-four