Poulsen: We must improve away record

Christian Poulsen admits Liverpool must improve their away form if they are going to challenge for Champions League qualification this season starting at Tottenham on Sunday.

The Danish midfielder played his part in last weekend's 3-0 victory over West Ham at Anfield which lifted the Reds up to ninth in the Barclays Premier League.

It was their fourth successive home win in all competitions but they have struggled on their travels.

Their seven away league games have yielded just five points and Poulsen is keen to put that right at White Hart Lane.

"I really hope that we can be better away," he said.

"I hope we can start at Tottenham. It will be a big test.

"It's not only Liverpool that has had problems away. A lot of the teams are picking up their points at home but we have got to keep working on that.

"We took confidence from beating West Ham but Tottenham will be a completely different game.

"We watched them against Arsenal and they played really well. The league is a little bit crazy at the moment and everyone is beating each other.

"We have to be 110 per cent for the game in London to get something."

The Reds have picked up 13 points from their last six games with only Manchester United boasting a better record over that period.

It's lifted them to within six points of fourth placed Manchester City but Poulsen knows there is still plenty of room for improvement.

"The more I think about the team performance last Saturday the more I think we are still in that developing stage," he said.

"I hope and I think that we will be better from game to game.

"If we work hard and keep listening to the things that the boss wants to do, I'm sure that we will be a much better team when we come to the games in February and March. It's a long season and I hope that we will end up in a higher position than we are now."

Poulsen enjoyed his best game in a Reds shirt against the Hammers as he shone alongside Raul Meireles.

With skipper Steven Gerrard injured and Lucas suspended, the 30-year-old grabbed his chance to shine and is hoping to enjoy an extended run in the side.

"It was good for me to play again," he said. "It has been a hard start so it was nice to be in the starting XI and it was an important victory.

"I got my chance and I was happy but three points was most important."

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