Source: Team_Talk
Carra relishing sticking it to critics
iverpool veteran Jamie Carragher is relishing the opportunity to prove people wrong this season - and 'expects an improvement' on last term.[LNB] The Reds finished a disappointing seventh in the Premier League last term and are not involved in the Champions League for the first time in seven seasons.[LNB]With teams such as Manchester City and Tottenham improving, they have not been universally tipped to return to the top four - but Carragher is ready for the challenge.[LNB]The 32-year-old defender said: "Ever since I have been in the team I don't think we've ever been thought of as the best team in the country.[LNB]"We have always had one or two question marks against us.[LNB]"There have been times in the last decade when we have quite enjoyed that situation and proved people wrong on quite a few occasions.[LNB]"I can totally understand people saying they don't fancy us to get in the top four but we have got to have the belief we can.[LNB]"I expect an improvement on last season and hopefully that will get us in there."[LNB]The mood at Anfield has been transformed since the appointment of Roy Hodgson as manager in the summer.[LNB]The arrival of new players Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic and pledges of allegiance by star pair Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres have also lifted spirits.[LNB]Liverpool were moments away from opening their league campaign with an impressive victory over Arsenal on Sunday when they conceded a last-gasp own goal equaliser.[LNB]Nevertheless, after playing the second half with 10 men following the sending-off of Cole, it was still a creditable result and Carragher feels the signs are good.[LNB]He added: "People always talk about last season, but don't forget the year before, with the same team, we finished second.[LNB]"We were never as bad as seventh. There were a lot of different factors involved and that's all in the past now.[LNB]"We were a lot better than that and hopefully with the impetus from the new arrival in the manager's hotseat and a couple of new players, we should be fighting for that top-four place.[LNB]"Hopefully over the season we can do better than that but I think the aim at the moment is to challenge and get in that top four."
