Source: PA
Carragher keen to qualify
Defender Jamie Carragher insists critics who claim Liverpool would be better off not qualifying for the Europa League do not understand the club.
Sunday's 3-0 win against Newcastle at Anfield took the Reds above Tottenham and into fifth place. Even though Spurs have a game in hand they have to go to Anfield for the penultimate match of the season and Kenny Dalglish's side are now favourites to claim the European spot.
However, because of the upheaval at the club this season, with the change of ownership in October followed by the January removal of Roy Hodgson just six months into the job, many observers and fans believe the Europa League will do more harm than good to the rebuilding process.
It is not a view shared by Carragher, who insists the winning mentality which has returned under Dalglish means the players want to compete for everything. "I know there is a lot of talk about whether people want us to finish fifth but, for me, Liverpool is European football," said the 33-year-old. "That's what the club is about, and I'm desperate for us to get it.
"It is another trophy to go for. I'd have loved to have been in Dublin (for this season's final) in a couple of weeks - that would have been fantastic for us and fantastic for the supporters. If we keep winning games, we've got a good chance of qualifying, but Tottenham will probably feel the same, and I think (the Spurs game on May 15) will be a great game now.
"It is important for the team to keep winning and maintain the feelgood factor. It hasn't been a great 18 months really for the club, it has been tough. Now, though, we can start to enjoy ourselves and go into games expecting to win."
