Carragher – Liverpool need to get into top four

The last few years have been real eye-openers for Liverpool fans and now even Jamie Carragher seems to admit the club need to look at getting back in the Premier League top four rather than challenge for the title.

The 2011/12 season may have been a success in cup competitions – with Carling Cup success complimented by an appearance in the FA Cup final – but they were poor in the Premier League and lost as many games as they won.

An eighth-place finish, behind arch-rivals Everton, signalled the end of Kenny Dalglish’s reign at Anfield with owners Fenway Sports Group giving him the chop and starting the search for a new man to take Liverpool forward.

Carragher, who is Liverpool through-and-through and can remember the times when Liverpool were all-conquering in the 1980s, reckons the cup triumphs made the last campaign “fantastic” but he is honest of what
should be the club’s targets under their new manager.

Liverpool fans will be dreaming of winning their first league title since 1990 but have to admit they are currently a long way behind Manchester City and Manchester United, and also lagging behind the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs.

The Premier League top four and Champions League qualification must be the prime target for the Reds next season as Carragher admits that tournament it “the place to be seen” for anyone who regards themselves as a top club.

“Liverpool fans probably don't want to hear it, but it is an achievement getting into the top four. It is different to what it was a long time ago,” said the Reds defender.

"At the moment I don't think the title is in everyone's mind, I think top four first.”

Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel has come out and stated league performances need to take priority over everything else this season as they underachieved in 2011/12, and fans will have high hopes the new man at the helm can take them into that Premier League top four.

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