Jamie Carragher is desperate to secure title glory for the club’s younger generation of supporters – but is bracing himself for the most competitive race in Premier League history.
Domestic football’s biggest prize is the only piece of silverware missing from Carragher’s CV and he is determined to ensure the club’s 19-year wait for a 19th league crown is ended next May.
“A lot of the supporters probably have not seen us win the title, especially the young ones, because it has been that long,” he said.
“They grew up on stories from their fathers and grandfathers. That is why winning the Champions League a few years ago and the treble was great for the younger generation so they could see what it means to people.
“But it has been too long since Liverpool won the title – the last time they did I was an Everton fan!
“It’s been too long and hopefully we can change that this season.”
The Reds’ heroics over the first half of the campaign have put them firmly in contention but the 30-year-old insists nobody is getting carried away ahead of the festive programme.
“We are not talking about the title in the dressing room,” he insisted.
“People keep talking about us being up there but we are not a small club, we are Liverpool Football Club. We are where we should be so it’s no big deal.
“This season a lot of teams seem to be taking points off each other.
“The last few years, teams have been winning the league with over 90 points, which makes them look a great side, but I don’t think it says a lot about the league to be honest.
“It’s a lot more competitive when teams take points off each other. It creates a better league and I think we have seen that this season.
“We have done all right so far but there’s still a long way to go and we will see what happens.
“There is no secret ingredient. It is just the best team which wins the league in the end and hopefully that will be us.”
Carragher admits Liverpool were frustrated not to take maximum points from Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. However, he was impressed by the way they responded to falling behind to Robin van Persie’s goal midway through the first half.
“We were a bit disappointed not to have won the game because of the fact Arsenal went down to 10 men,” he said.
“When it was 11 against 11 I thought we were going to go on and get the three points. But the sending off seemed to galvanise them and the crowd’s reaction gave them a big lift.
“They looked a little bit more dangerous when they went down to 10 men and we looked a bit less dangerous.
“For the last 18 months we have probably been one of the hardest teams to beat in this league. We do not lose too many games but now we have to try and turn those draws into wins.
“Both ourselves and Arsenal have got a decent record against the other big teams. But like us, Arsenal could probably improve against the other sides now.”
Domestic football’s biggest prize is the only piece of silverware missing from Carragher’s CV and he is determined to ensure the club’s 19-year wait for a 19th league crown is ended next May.
“A lot of the supporters probably have not seen us win the title, especially the young ones, because it has been that long,” he said.
“They grew up on stories from their fathers and grandfathers. That is why winning the Champions League a few years ago and the treble was great for the younger generation so they could see what it means to people.
“But it has been too long since Liverpool won the title – the last time they did I was an Everton fan!
“It’s been too long and hopefully we can change that this season.”
The Reds’ heroics over the first half of the campaign have put them firmly in contention but the 30-year-old insists nobody is getting carried away ahead of the festive programme.
“We are not talking about the title in the dressing room,” he insisted.
“People keep talking about us being up there but we are not a small club, we are Liverpool Football Club. We are where we should be so it’s no big deal.
“This season a lot of teams seem to be taking points off each other.
“The last few years, teams have been winning the league with over 90 points, which makes them look a great side, but I don’t think it says a lot about the league to be honest.
“It’s a lot more competitive when teams take points off each other. It creates a better league and I think we have seen that this season.
“We have done all right so far but there’s still a long way to go and we will see what happens.
“There is no secret ingredient. It is just the best team which wins the league in the end and hopefully that will be us.”
Carragher admits Liverpool were frustrated not to take maximum points from Sunday’s clash with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. However, he was impressed by the way they responded to falling behind to Robin van Persie’s goal midway through the first half.
“We were a bit disappointed not to have won the game because of the fact Arsenal went down to 10 men,” he said.
“When it was 11 against 11 I thought we were going to go on and get the three points. But the sending off seemed to galvanise them and the crowd’s reaction gave them a big lift.
“They looked a little bit more dangerous when they went down to 10 men and we looked a bit less dangerous.
“For the last 18 months we have probably been one of the hardest teams to beat in this league. We do not lose too many games but now we have to try and turn those draws into wins.
“Both ourselves and Arsenal have got a decent record against the other big teams. But like us, Arsenal could probably improve against the other sides now.”
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