Masch wants fortress Anfield

Argentine eyes Europa League as first trophy with Reds

Last updated: 28th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Masch wants fortress Anfield

Mascherano: Wants to build confidence

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Javier Mascherano is aware that Liverpool must make Anfield a fortress for the remainder of the season if they are to be successful in their quest for a top-four finish.

Rafa Benitez's Reds have struggled this campaign, but they have won their last three home Premier League matches and welcome Bolton to Merseyside on Saturday.

Liverpool are fighting with Manchester City, Tottenham and Aston Villa for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League, and Mascherano is aware of the importance of fixtures at Anfield.

The Argentine believes a winning run at home, with Everton, Blackburn, Portsmouth and Sunderland to visit before April, will build self-belief in what promises to be a tense conclusion to the season.

"If we can be really strong at Anfield, it will be really good for our confidence," he told Liverpool's official website.

Confidence

"I believe that confidence is always about the result. If you don't get the result, your confidence will go down and if you do it increases. One goes hand-in-hand with the other. We need to look at the positive things and try to be positive as we look forward.

"Whether you are winning or losing, it is no good thinking too much about it because you have to look forward and you have to live in the present. The present for us is Bolton and we have to win the game on Saturday."

Meanwhile, Mascherano, who has been linked with a summer move to Barcelona, views the Europa League as an opportunity to end his wait for a first trophy with Liverpool since his 2007 move from West Ham.

"The target for us is to finish in the top four and win the Europa League," he said.

"The Europa League is very important for us. I want to win something with Liverpool. We have the chance to do that in the Europa League, so we will try our best.

"Also, if you win the Europa League, you get to play in the Uefa Super Cup and that will be really good for the team."

The Reds begin their participation in the Europa League, having been dumped out of the UEFA Champions League group stages, on 18th February when they play the first leg of their last-32 tie against Unirea Urziceni.

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