Source: Team_Talk
McCarthy targeting Boxing Day win
Wolves stunned Tottenham earlier this month with a 1-0 win at White Hart Lane and McCarthy is after a repeat of that result to set his side up for another tough test against big-spending Manchester City at Molineux on Monday evening.[LNB]The back-to-back games threaten to test Wolves survival credentials to the limit.[LNB]But an upbeat McCarthy said: "We are going there to try and win.[LNB]We won't be going daft and trying to attack them from the word go.[LNB]"But we played well at Tottenham when we had a game plan and we will have to have a similar one against Liverpool.[LNB]"We couldn't have two much tougher games could we, Liverpool away at Anfield and then Manchester City with all their millions and superstar players and a new manager.[LNB]It doesn't get any tougher than that.[LNB]"If as normally happens, a new manager coming in has a positive effect.[LNB]"But it doesn't seem to me that the Manchester City players wanted to see Mark Hughes leave in the first place."[LNB]Wolves will head into this crucial stage of the season boosted by a run of three wins in four games that has seen them jump out of the relegation zone and up into 12th position.[LNB]McCarthy hopes the foundation for survival in the top flight is being laid and he added: "The stat they always used to bang out was that if you were in the bottom three at Christmas you were history.[LNB]"We are not in the bottom three so I kind of like that stat now.[LNB]"It is really close and that is why we went from bottom three to 12th.[LNB]"I think it is going to be really close for the rest of the season.[LNB]"But we have played well in the three games we have won.[LNB]Points and results are all important.[LNB]They are great for confidence and we are feeling confident."[LNB]Despite their recent good run, McCarthy will hammer home to his players the fact a misfiring Liverpool side should not be underestimated.[LNB]During his days as a player and a manager, McCarthy has never viewed a trip to Liverpool as anything but a stern test for any team.[LNB]"I have grown up in an era where I never thought that going to Anfield was going to be a soft touch or easy no matter how they are playing," insisted McCarthy.[LNB]"They are full of quality.[LNB]They are brimming and overflowing with really good players.[LNB]"We all have difficult times in a season.[LNB]But I just look at the quality in the team.[LNB]"It might be a better opportunity for us than other times.[LNB]But they have very, very, good players.[LNB]"I never see Liverpool as being weak and Liverpool might well be seeing this game as an opportunity."[LNB]The game has added spice for Wolves owner Steve Morgan - a lifelong Liverpool fan who tried to buy the club.[LNB]But McCarthy knows where Morgan's support will lie on Boxing Day and he said: "Steve is a Wolves fan.[LNB]There will be no split loyalties."[LNB]McCarthy, who still finds himself being questioned about his team selection against Manchester United at Old Trafford, has admitted he is likely to rotate his players again for two games in the space of 48 hours.[LNB]He added: "I will have to see how they all are after Liverpool.[LNB]I will do what I have to do to make sure the players are as fit and sharp as they were against Burnley last weekend.[LNB]"We have to be as fit and fresh as we can be to get results.[LNB]"Having two games in two days is barmy.[LNB]With the intensity of them it is just ridiculous.[LNB]"I do see some of teams have two games in three days which strikes me as being slightly unfair.[LNB]But there is nothing I can do about that."[LNB][LNB]
