Carragher hails Reds defence

Carragher: Delighted with defence

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has urged his team-mates to continue their recent solid defensive work following their 1-0 win over Everton in a fiercely-contested Merseyside derby.

The Reds have gone seven games unbeaten in the Premier League, and have enjoyed a run that has yielded 17 points, six clean sheets and a return to the top four.

Liverpool's stranglehold on fourth place looked under severe threat earlier in the season after a dismal sequence of results, but the recent revival has led Carragher to praise the solid defensive work that has revitalised his side's season.

Bootle-born Carragher, who played in his 25th meeting between the near-neighbours, knows how important the victory was for morale.

He warned his colleagues that the good work must continue, however, ahead of a difficult clash against title outsiders Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

"It is not just three points, it has a massive impact and everyone is buzzing," said the 32-year-old. "But that can change if the result doesn't go our way at Arsenal.

"We beat Manchester United (in the league) and then played Arsenal in the Carling Cup and lost.

"It is important we keep that feel good factor after the Arsenal game and that will be by making sure we get a good result.

"We are going into the game in a great frame of mind but Arsenal away is always difficult.

"We have been to the Emirates for a couple of years now and I don't think we've won there yet so it is something we are going to have to do sooner or later and hopefully Wednesday will be the time.

"For the last four or five years we have been good defensively under Rafa and we are just getting back to our normal selves. If you keep clean sheets you are going to win games."

Liverpool played with ten men for more than 55 minutes in the encounter against David Moyes' side following the dismissal of Sotirios Krygiakos, who saw red for a two-footed lunge on Marouane Fellaini.

Dirk Kuyt's 50th goal for the club in the 55th minute was enough to secure victory, while Everton's Steven Pienaar was given his marching orders in the closing stages after he picked up two yellow cards.

Manager Rafa Benitez will allow his players a couple of days to enjoy the victory, their fifth in the last six, before concentrating on the Gunners.

The Spaniard credited his players' work-rate over the last month for getting the side back into the top four - but insisted there was plenty still to do to secure Champions League football next season.

"We know it is a long race so we have to keep going, keep working hard and keep winning games," he said.

"It is important for us to have the belief we can do it. It will be tough but we showed character again and can play with more confidence.

"We can enjoy the game for the next couple of days but still you have to keep winning games and playing away will be tough and we have to do our job."