Carragher blames away form

Jamie Carragher today promised Liverpool will aim to finish the season with four wins as he pinpointed poor away form as the reason they have struggled so badly.

The Reds' hopes of qualifying for the Champions League were all but dashed at Anfield yesterday, as they drew 0-0 with Fulham and Manchester City beat Birmingham 5-1.

It brought an end to Liverpool's eight-game winning sequence at home, a record that is a direct opposite of their form on the road.

Liverpool have not won away in the Premier League since beating Aston Villa 1-0 on December 29 and Carragher says that is the reason they will miss out on the top four.

"When you play for Liverpool, you just keep going," he said. "That's the least you can do. It's going to be very difficult now but all we can do is try and win our games. If we do that, we will see where it takes us.

"The away form has been the thing that has really let us down. I've had a good look at it and the fact we have won the same amount of games as Wolves says everything. You've got to do more than win four times away from home.

"We've got a couple left away (Burnley and Hull) and we have got to win them both."

After suffering frustration at Birmingham on Easter Sunday, Liverpool simply had to win yesterday to keep in the race for fourth place.

They failed to create any significant openings, however, but Carragher was quick to highlight how well Fulham defended.

"You look at two home games against Fulham and West Ham and you are hoping that they will be two wins," said the Reds' vice-captain.

"That would have put us in contention for the top four.

"How much can things change around? Last year Tottenham were right down at the bottom but are now pushing for fourth. That shows how possible it is to make radical changes."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.