Carra In The Dark Over Takeover

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists he and his team-mates have not been told anything with regards to the ongoing takeover talk at Anfield.

The Reds are preparing for a Premier League opener against Arsenal on Sunday, which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1, but the club are also busy off the field.

American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks appear to be on the verge of selling their control, with the likes of Chinese tycoon Kenny Huang and former Syria international Yahya Kirdi all being linked with the Merseysiders.

But Carragher is adamant that Liverpool's players are in the dark about the possibly of a takeover and that they are only concentrating on their on-field commitments.

"We haven't been told anything to be honest - it is to do with the people upstairs and I don't think we should get too involved," said the centre-back, who, manager Roy Hodgson has confirmed, is set to be offered a new contract once the ownership saga is concluded.

"Things like that our out of our hands. We just have to concentrate on doing our thing on the pitch."

Carragher is getting used to the new regime at Anfield under Hodgson and admits the club's first aim, having finished a disappointing seventh last season, is to get back into the top four.

And having under-performed so badly, recording their worst league placing for more than a decade, the 32-year-old is confident the Reds will bounce back in the coming campaign.

"With us being out of the Champions League, the main aim is to get back in the top four," he told talkSPORT.

"If we do that we will have done well with the competition from the likes of Manchester City.

"But if we are up there things might change and we can look further.

"Tottenham did really well last season (finishing fourth) but you don't know how Champions League football will affect them.

"Some clubs will drop back and some will go forward - hopefully we are one of the ones going forward."