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GERRARD AND CARRAGHER: LIVERPOOL MUST STAY ON TOP

ON A HIGH: Gerrard after the Everton victory

Tuesday February 9,2010

By Paul Joyce

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JAMIE Carragher and Steven Gerrard joined forces yesterday to spell out the importance to Liverpool of maintaining their recent momentum as they look to end a decade of heartache and frustration at Arsenal.

Anfield duo Carragher and Gerrard are the only survivors from the last Liverpool team to savour an away league win against Arsene Wenger’s side, with Titi Camara’s match-winner coming way back in February 2000.

Carragher knows the “feel-good factor” from Saturday’s Merseyside derby victory over Everton will fade if they stumble and blow the chance to close to within two points of third-placed Arsenal tomorrow.

Defender Carragher admitted confidence is high following the 10-man success against their neighbours, but warned his team-mates they must keep their foot to the floor if they are to salvage a traumatic season.

“In one sense it is more than three points because everyone is buzzing in the dressing room, but that can quickly change if we don’t build on this result,” said Carragher. “It’s important that we keep the feel-good factor that we have until after the Arsenal game and if that is to happen we’ll have to make sure we get a good result."

“Arsenal have been at the Emirates for a few years and I don’t think we’ve had a win there yet. So it’s something we’re going to have to do sooner or later and hopefully Wednesday will be the time. We’re going into it in a great frame of mind. We’ve had plenty of results this season against the big teams and we’ve maybe faltered against the smaller sides.”

Gerrard echoed Carragher’s thoughts after securing bragging rights from the 213th clash against Everton. “You could see what it meant to everyone on the pitch at the end and it was the same again in the dressing room afterwards; everybody is still on a high,” said Gerrard.

“Now we have to take that high into the next game. It’s a tough one, Arsenal away always is. But we have used beating Everton as a platform in the past and we have to do it again."

“We have to try to keep this run going, as we can’t afford any slips. There are a couple of tough games coming up but if we can show what we have done in the last six games, I don’t see why we can’t maintain it.”

The feel-good factor for Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez, however, has been punctured by the realisation that he is likely to lose out to Wenger in the free transfer race for Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.

Chamakh said at the weekend that he would prefer a move to Arsenal over Liverpool. It represents a huge blow to Benitez, who struck a deal with the player’s agent three weeks ago over a Bosman switch in the summer. Interest in another free transfer target, Standard Liege’s Milan Jovanovic, has also become complicated.