Jamie Carragher admits it is nice to know Liverpool have Europa
League football - but has stressed the fight for a top-four spot is
not over.
Gerrard and Carragher: Coming to the end of careers
The 34-year-old vice-captain, who played in his fourth
League Cup final in Sunday's Carling Cup win over Cardiff, wants
the Reds to find the consistency to qualify for Europe on a regular
basis - and he does not mean the second-tier
competition.
"I think we are bigger than that," said the veteran centre-back.
"We should be looking to get into Europe every year through our
league position rather than through winning the Carling Cup.
"Yes, it is nice to have it in the bag but we are bigger and
better than that.
"The next step is trying to get back into the Champions
League.
"We know it is going to be a difficult task and obviously we
have got a big game coming up against Arsenal this weekend.
"They will be flying after the win over Tottenham (when they
came from 2-0 down to win 5-2).
"But getting back into the Champions League has got to be the
next step for this club.
"Europe is part of our heritage and we need to be involved
again."
Carragher admits winning the Carling Cup was a relief for
himself and Steven Gerrard in particular.
The Scouse pair have been at the club since they were schoolboys
and, with them both in their early to mid-30s, they were keen not
to allow the chance to end a six-year trophy drought slip through
their fingers.
"We're coming to the latter stages of our career, myself and
Stevie, and because we have gone so long without winning anything
you don't want to finish your career going seven or eight years
without," he told talkSPORT.
"It was a relief for both of us to get a trophy, for ourselves
and the club.
"It maybe takes the pressure off now for the next year or two
and we can relax and go on to try to win more trophies, hopefully
bigger trophies."
