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CARRAGHER TAKING NOTHING FOR GRANTED
Paul Eaton 22 October 2008
Paul Eaton 22 October 2008
Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool's one hundred per cent record in the Champions League to date could count for nothing if they don't perform against Atletico Madrid - starting tonight in the Spanish capital.
The Reds are tied with Atletico at the top of Group D after both sides won their opening two matches - and this evening's clash in the Vicente Calderon is the first of a double header of games which could result in one of the two teams booking their place in the knock-out phase of the competition.
"It's important that we get a good result against Atletico because we've made a good start to the group stages and now we have to build on that," said Carragher.
"People are saying that we are both favourites to go through but if these two games go wrong for one of us and you lose both of them then it would bring the other teams in the group back into it.
"The other factor is that you want to top the group as well because that can make a little bit of difference in terms of who you play in the next round.
"It's never guaranteed that you'll meet a so-called weaker side if you come top, of course, but it's always nice to win the group and that's why we want to take at least four points from these two games against Atletico."
While admitting the possibility of securing qualification with games to spare would be the ideal scenario for the Reds, Carragher insists the priority is ensuring Liverpool are still playing Champions League football next year.
"I think the manager's already mentioned getting through early and ideally that's always what you would want to do," he added.
"But the important thing is not to look too far ahead and just to make sure we do go through.
"If we do go through early then that'd be great and I'm sure the manager would then be able to switch things around and concentrate on the league.
"That's not just ourselves though, I'm sure Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea are all thinking the same as well.
"But the most important thing is just to make sure we go through to the next round, that always has to be the target."
"It's important that we get a good result against Atletico because we've made a good start to the group stages and now we have to build on that," said Carragher.
"People are saying that we are both favourites to go through but if these two games go wrong for one of us and you lose both of them then it would bring the other teams in the group back into it.
"The other factor is that you want to top the group as well because that can make a little bit of difference in terms of who you play in the next round.
"It's never guaranteed that you'll meet a so-called weaker side if you come top, of course, but it's always nice to win the group and that's why we want to take at least four points from these two games against Atletico."
While admitting the possibility of securing qualification with games to spare would be the ideal scenario for the Reds, Carragher insists the priority is ensuring Liverpool are still playing Champions League football next year.
"I think the manager's already mentioned getting through early and ideally that's always what you would want to do," he added.
"But the important thing is not to look too far ahead and just to make sure we do go through.
"If we do go through early then that'd be great and I'm sure the manager would then be able to switch things around and concentrate on the league.
"That's not just ourselves though, I'm sure Arsenal, Man United and Chelsea are all thinking the same as well.
"But the most important thing is just to make sure we go through to the next round, that always has to be the target."
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