Carra aware of Villa significance

Veteran defender views three points as a 'statement'

Last updated: 30th December 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carra aware of Villa significance

Carragher: Up and down season

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Jamie Carragher may begin to pay the Premier League table greater attention following Liverpool's crucial victory over top-four rivals Aston Villa.

The Reds veteran was part of an impressive defensive showing at Villa Park on Tuesday which built the platform for Fernando Torres to sneak a 1-0 win deep into stoppage-time with his 50th league goal in England.

Three points in the Midlands were vital for Liverpool to build on the Boxing Day defeat of Wolves at Anfield and the win lifted the club to seventh position, just two points behind Villa and four adrift of fourth-placed Tottenham.

The significance is not lost on Carragher, a footballing encyclopaedia who claims that he had become so disillusioned with results that he had stopped checking league standings, and he hopes the victory will act as a catalyst.

With Spurs to visit Anfield on 10th January, the defender said: "It was a big result. That brings us a lot closer to Aston Villa. If they had beaten us, it would have been a big points difference so the one game can make a difference.

"We realise what would have happened if we had lost. People would have said we were miles away and 'that was it' for the top four so we have given ourselves a fighting chance.

Shoot you down

"I haven't looked at the table for a while so I am not sure how far or how close we are. When it's not going well, there is no point.

"But if we can win the next game against Tottenham as well, that can put us right in the mix. We've had a lot of ups and downs this season and hopefully we can go on a good run now."

Carragher added: "We've been up there for a long time. There are always people wanting to shoot you down, other teams.

"Over the last few years Villa have been one of those teams around the top six alongside Everton.

"But this time around Manchester City have really come on and Tottenham have done really well and I think they are all looking at us as the team they can take the place of.

"So it was more than just the three points at Villa. It was a statement to everyone that we are still fighting for that place."

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