Monday, March 15, 2010

Agger: We'll Keep Believing


Daniel Agger insists points rather than performance will be all that matters when Portsmouth visit Anfield on Monday evening.

Liverpool kick off a crucial week by taking on Barclays Premier League bottom club Pompey before the return leg of the Europa League last 16 tie with Lille, with the Reds needing to overturn a 1-0 deficit.

Rafael Benitez's side then travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday - but Agger has warned Liverpool must simply focus on one game at a time.

"Against Portsmouth on Monday night the performance doesn't matter as much as getting the three points," said the centre-back. "We need to get some victories quickly and move on to get ourselves up the table.

"Every week we say this is a big week. Last week people said it was a defining week as well.

''We need to focus on the next game first, not the games after that. It's as straightforward as that."

Liverpool lost ground in the race for a top four finish after slipping to a 1-0 defeat at Wigan Athletic last Monday.

While Agger accepts the Reds have underachieved this campaign, he is adamant no-one at Melwood is ready to give up the fight for Champions League football.

"We can't slip up any more because it's getting to the end of the season and we know we need more points," he said.

"I can't imagine not being in the Champions League. That's the tournament we all want to be in. But it's our own fault where we are now and we have to get out of it.

"The fans have a right to expect Liverpool to be in the top four. A big club like Liverpool should be in there every year, but as we know football doesn't always work like that.

"The pressure of that shouldn't come into it. When you come to a club like this there will always be pressure to be successful.

"Maybe we'll have to start to imagine not being in the top four. But for as long as we have a chance we have to keep believing.

"If you play at a football club like Liverpool you always need to take responsibility, no matter who you are. You do that on and off the pitch, but you must definitely do it in the games."

Regardless of the outcome of 2009-10, Agger sees his long-term future at Anfield and admits he has a burning desire to clinch his first trophy as a Liverpool player.

He added: "I wouldn't walk away. I'd fight to put it right next year because I'm not a quitter.

"I've been close to winning trophies, but I still don't have any. That's a big disappointment because that's the reason I came to Liverpool."

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