Liverpool thrashed lowly Luton 5-0 in their FA Cup third round replay to seal their first win in five. Nevertheless, captain on the night Jamie Carragher has admitted that his side are out of this season's league title race.
Liverpool are way off the pace in the league after a succession of draws and many of the Anfield faithful are disillusioned following manager Rafael Benitez's heavy spending in the summer transfer window and the club's subsequent failure to progress.
Benitez's future has been cast in doubt in the past few weeks for various reasons, and matters on the field are equally unpredictable.
Carragher, who was made captain for the Luton game in honour of his 500th appearance for the club, was honest in his assessment of the Reds' title chances.
He said: "Only time will tell. I haven't got a clue."
Though behind his manager, there was a subtle jibe that he, like many of the fans, would prefer domestic success in the league to cup runs in Europe, as has been Benitez's priority during his Anfield tenure.
"It doesn't look like it is going to be this season," he admitted. "He [Benitez] has done very well but the league is the one we want."
"[It] would be lovely [to win the title] before I finish of course."
Carragher refused to excuse Liverpool's ability to keep pace due to lack of transfer funds.
"It makes it more difficult, the spending power of other clubs, but you only have to look at Arsenal – they don't spend the big money and they have won a lot under Arsène Wenger," he mused.
As is his style on the pitch, he remained defiant and determined that the side would fight in all competitions until the last day of the season.
"We are not stupid, you never throw the towel in but for us to get back into contention for the title we would have to have an unbelievable second half to the season and the rest would have to have an unbelievably bad second half," he declared. "We realise our best chance of silverware is the cup competitions. That's why they are so important."
Liverpool are fourth in the Barclays Premier League, 12 points off leaders Manchester United.
Liverpool are way off the pace in the league after a succession of draws and many of the Anfield faithful are disillusioned following manager Rafael Benitez's heavy spending in the summer transfer window and the club's subsequent failure to progress.
Benitez's future has been cast in doubt in the past few weeks for various reasons, and matters on the field are equally unpredictable.
Carragher, who was made captain for the Luton game in honour of his 500th appearance for the club, was honest in his assessment of the Reds' title chances.
He said: "Only time will tell. I haven't got a clue."
Though behind his manager, there was a subtle jibe that he, like many of the fans, would prefer domestic success in the league to cup runs in Europe, as has been Benitez's priority during his Anfield tenure.
"It doesn't look like it is going to be this season," he admitted. "He [Benitez] has done very well but the league is the one we want."
"[It] would be lovely [to win the title] before I finish of course."
Carragher refused to excuse Liverpool's ability to keep pace due to lack of transfer funds.
"It makes it more difficult, the spending power of other clubs, but you only have to look at Arsenal – they don't spend the big money and they have won a lot under Arsène Wenger," he mused.
As is his style on the pitch, he remained defiant and determined that the side would fight in all competitions until the last day of the season.
"We are not stupid, you never throw the towel in but for us to get back into contention for the title we would have to have an unbelievable second half to the season and the rest would have to have an unbelievably bad second half," he declared. "We realise our best chance of silverware is the cup competitions. That's why they are so important."
Liverpool are fourth in the Barclays Premier League, 12 points off leaders Manchester United.
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