Liverpool's title hopes are over for another season - Jamie Carragher
Jan 31 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
JAMIE CARRAGHER today admitted Liverpool's title hopes are over for another year and held up his hands for giving away the last gasp penalty which condemned the Reds to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham last night.
The Reds centre-back felled Freddie Ljungberg in the box as the West Ham man prepared to shoot on goal and Mark Noble fired home the resultant 93rd minute spot kick.
Despite the sickening setback, Carragher says the Liverpool players must now shake off their disappointment and focus on qualifying for next season's Champions League.
He said: "It's always better in hindsight but maybe I should have just let Ljungberg shoot.
"I'll have to see the incident again but maybe I shouldn't have dived in.
"I just felt he was about to pull the trigger and I flew across to try and block the shot but he's come the other way and I think my left foot slipped underneath me and caught him.
"I don't think it's down to luck or anything like that – I've always said you get what you deserve in football and if results aren't going well like they're not at the moment that's something we've got to turn around quickly.
"I think the league has gone and we've got to realise that we're fighting with Everton, Aston Villa and Man City for that top four place.
"The teams at the top are a long way away and we've got to just focus on the Sunderland game on Saturday and try and get three points from that.
"It's been a few games now since we got all three points and we need to get more points on the board."
Liverpool have now failed to win in the Premiership since a 2-1 victory over Derby County on Boxing Day but Carragher insists he does not believe their winless run has been caused by a lack of effort.
"I think the desire is there," he said.
"West Ham is a tough place to go and obviously we're not playing great and confidence is a bit low but if we'd got a point here it would have been a step in the right direction.
"It's not all doom and gloom, though. We're still in two very big cup competitions and, as I say, we want to do well in them, but the league form isn't good enough and the sooner we sort that out the better.
"At the moment things aren't going for us, but I don't think it's about luck.”
Jan 31 2008 EXCLUSIVE by Tony Barrett, Liverpool Echo
JAMIE CARRAGHER today admitted Liverpool's title hopes are over for another year and held up his hands for giving away the last gasp penalty which condemned the Reds to a 1-0 defeat at West Ham last night.
The Reds centre-back felled Freddie Ljungberg in the box as the West Ham man prepared to shoot on goal and Mark Noble fired home the resultant 93rd minute spot kick.
Despite the sickening setback, Carragher says the Liverpool players must now shake off their disappointment and focus on qualifying for next season's Champions League.
He said: "It's always better in hindsight but maybe I should have just let Ljungberg shoot.
"I'll have to see the incident again but maybe I shouldn't have dived in.
"I just felt he was about to pull the trigger and I flew across to try and block the shot but he's come the other way and I think my left foot slipped underneath me and caught him.
"I don't think it's down to luck or anything like that – I've always said you get what you deserve in football and if results aren't going well like they're not at the moment that's something we've got to turn around quickly.
"I think the league has gone and we've got to realise that we're fighting with Everton, Aston Villa and Man City for that top four place.
"The teams at the top are a long way away and we've got to just focus on the Sunderland game on Saturday and try and get three points from that.
"It's been a few games now since we got all three points and we need to get more points on the board."
Liverpool have now failed to win in the Premiership since a 2-1 victory over Derby County on Boxing Day but Carragher insists he does not believe their winless run has been caused by a lack of effort.
"I think the desire is there," he said.
"West Ham is a tough place to go and obviously we're not playing great and confidence is a bit low but if we'd got a point here it would have been a step in the right direction.
"It's not all doom and gloom, though. We're still in two very big cup competitions and, as I say, we want to do well in them, but the league form isn't good enough and the sooner we sort that out the better.
"At the moment things aren't going for us, but I don't think it's about luck.”
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