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Ryan Babel Insists Liverpool Are Still Fighting For Fourth Place In Premier League
Reds will take stock and move on...
09-Mar-2010 3:12:00 PM
By Zack Wilson
Liverpool forward Ryan Babel insists that the Reds will not give up in their bid to claim fourth place in the Premier League, despite Monday evening's disappointing defeat at Wigan Athletic.
The 1-0 defeat was the Merseysiders' first ever loss to the Latics, and leaves Rafael Benitez's men in sixth place, a point behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom have games in hand.
Benitez has questioned his team's mentality after the defeat, but Babel insists that there is still plenty of fighting spirit in the squad.
"We definitely still have faith we can get fourth place. It will be harder and it's important to get three points in every game, as it was before Wigan. That's why it is so disappointing to have lost," the Dutchman told his club's official website.
"It is frustrating that we had built up some confidence by winning games, but one game can spoil the confidence.
"The disappointment is very big for everybody, but we have to start again."
Babel did acknowledge that Liverpool had made things hard for themselves at the DW Stadium, though.
"I think we made it difficult for ourselves. In the first half especially, there was space to play football but we failed to do it," he added.
"Then they scored and it was difficult because they were staying behind the ball. In any away game it is hard to score two goals."
And the Dutch forward admits that some serious analysis will be needed ahead of the Reds' next game, the first leg of a Europa League tie against Lille on Thursday.
"We will analyse the game and then we will know what his thoughts are," he said of manager Benitez.
"We have another important game on Thursday, so we have to be ready and prepared.
"We cannot be disappointed for too long. We will analyse and watch videos, like we always do, and I am sure we will be good for the game."
The 1-0 defeat was the Merseysiders' first ever loss to the Latics, and leaves Rafael Benitez's men in sixth place, a point behind Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, both of whom have games in hand.
Benitez has questioned his team's mentality after the defeat, but Babel insists that there is still plenty of fighting spirit in the squad.
"We definitely still have faith we can get fourth place. It will be harder and it's important to get three points in every game, as it was before Wigan. That's why it is so disappointing to have lost," the Dutchman told his club's official website.
"It is frustrating that we had built up some confidence by winning games, but one game can spoil the confidence.
"The disappointment is very big for everybody, but we have to start again."
Babel did acknowledge that Liverpool had made things hard for themselves at the DW Stadium, though.
"I think we made it difficult for ourselves. In the first half especially, there was space to play football but we failed to do it," he added.
"Then they scored and it was difficult because they were staying behind the ball. In any away game it is hard to score two goals."
And the Dutch forward admits that some serious analysis will be needed ahead of the Reds' next game, the first leg of a Europa League tie against Lille on Thursday.
"We will analyse the game and then we will know what his thoughts are," he said of manager Benitez.
"We have another important game on Thursday, so we have to be ready and prepared.
"We cannot be disappointed for too long. We will analyse and watch videos, like we always do, and I am sure we will be good for the game."
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