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The Reds let a golden opportunity to make up some lost ground on their Champions League rivals slip yesterday, as they were beaten 2-1 at Anfield by Arsenal.

That only tells a fraction of the story, though, as Liverpool looked in complete control when Dirk Kuyt put them ahead in the first half but were unrecognisable after the break.

Arsenal left with three points thanks to Glen Johnson's own goal and a superb Andrey Arshavin strike but Carragher accepts Liverpool only had themselves to blame.

It leaves Liverpool embroiled in a dreadful run of form but Carragher feels the time has come to end the mounting criticism in style - starting on Wednesday against Wigan.

"We started off well in the first half and should have had a penalty but you have to give credit to Arsenal, they're a top side," said the Reds' vice-captain.

"The manner of the goals we conceded were unfortunate but other than them scoring, I can't remember them having too much else, which is why it is so hard to take.

"We've just got to dust ourselves down now and move to Wednesday. For the quality of the players and the stature of the club, we should be doing better.

"Statistics (like three wins in 15 games) can change quickly and we have got to do that. It's tough at the moment but part of playing for Liverpool is having big character.

"That's what we need now. Between now and May it is going to be a grind at times but we have got to stick together, get through it and, as I'm doing, pray to God that at the end of the season there will be something worthwhile for what we've gone through."

There is no disputing injuries have wreaked havoc on Liverpool's season and yesterday was the first time in more than two months that Rafa Benitez was able to name his strongest team.

But he still saw Glen Johnson and Javier Mascherano pick up knocks to make them doubts for the meeting with Wigan but Carragher refused to use blame the situation on fitness problems.

He, simply, believes the rebuilding process needs to be taken a step at a time and says it is imperative form improves.

"We can't look for excuses," said Carragher. "That's the way it is at top level football - we know that any little thing can get pounced up and that's happening at the moment.

"Wigan is a massive game for us. I've tried too many times down the years trying to work things out, so there's no point looking further ahead than that.

"We'll just try and get three points on Wednesday and then move on to Portsmouth. We've got to look at ourselves and realise that we've got to do much better.

"There's still some lads who aren't 100 per cent fit yet, so there'll be improvement to come but we need to get this team playing regular."

Author: Liverpool Echo

Olympique Lyon vs Bordeaux HIGHLIGHTS 0-1
Dec 13, 2009 9:00 PM CET
Stadium: Stade de Gerland
Referee: S. Lannoy
Scorer: (Bordeaux) 85' Chamakh M.
Top of the match: Gourcuff Y. (Bordeaux)

The result means the Reds have slipped five points behind the current occupants of the final Champions League berth, Aston Villa, but the boss is adamant his side will bounce back, beginning with Wigan at home on Wednesday.

"The target is still the same," he told his post match press conference. "Look at the next game and aim for the top four. It is the same situation. We have to keep going, try to improve and win our games. If we play at the same level that we did in the first-half, I am sure we will win more games."

Liverpool had looked on course to take all three points against the Gunners after Dirk Kuyt capped an impressive first-half team performance with the opener.
However, the visitors produced a second-half fightback to claim a 2-1 victory, leaving Benitez to rue a Glen Johnson own goal that sparked the turnaround.

"It is difficult to explain when you play so well in first half," he said. "We were on top of them. We had the chance for Torres, the goal and the penalty that was not given.

"Then we started the second half with an own goal and then a second goal went in and everything changed. You could see that the confidence went down. We gave the ball away in the second half which was the opposite to the first when we were controlling things.

"We've had too many problems this year and when you have another one, like the own goal, sometimes it is hard to keep the confidence high. We have to be ready and start training tomorrow. We need to show character and play at the same level we played at in the first half, against Wigan.

"The fans and the players are disappointed. We have to start working with the players and do things in the right way. Some players are coming back and they need to improve their match fitness. The positive is the first-half, the negative is the lack of confidence we showed in the second half."

During a one-sided first 45 the Reds were denied what appeared to be a clear-cut penalty when Steven Gerrard was brought down by William Gallas. Benitez felt the referee's decision had a big impact on the outcome of the game and that Liverpool had missed a chance to gain ground on the top four after some favourable results on Saturday.

"It was a penalty. 100 per cent," he said. " A foul is a foul, so it is a penalty. These decisions can make a massive difference."

He added: "We were talking before and we knew that the only way to reduce the gap was to win our games. If you cannot do that you cannot get closer to the other teams."

Asked if the result meant Liverpool's hopes of winning the title were over, the boss said: "You always ask me the same, but for me it is just one game at a time. I cannot say anything because you never know what can happen in football. But to be realistic, it is Wigan and nothing else.

"Today, after the first-half everyone was convinced it was a different team and one with a winning mentality. Maybe we need to score the second goal and have this advantage for some games, then we will see the confidence go higher.
"There was clearly a loss of confidence in the second half .After the own goal, everything was different. We had no confidence passing the ball. It's not a question of quality, just confidence."

The clash with the Gunners also marked the return to the starting line-up of Fernando Torres, and Benitez felt the striker gave a good account of himself.

"It was a difficult game at the end because we were not playing good passes for him," he said. "He had a chance first-half and he was a threat. We need to play better to provide the strikers with chances and it will be easier for them."

Quizzed about the fitness of Javier Mascherano, after the Argentina skipper was seen nursing his knee prior to his substitution, the boss added: "He is okay. He got a knock on his knee. He was limping a bit and he also had a yellow card so I replaced him. I think he will be okay for Wednesday."

Author: Paul Hassall at Anfield

Liverpool vs Arsenal HIGHLIGHTS 1-2
Dec 13, 2009 4:00 PM GMT
Stadium: Anfield
Referee: Howard Webb
Scorer: (Liverpool) 41' Kuyt D. (Arsenal) 50' Johnson G., 58’ Arshavin A.
Top of the match: Arshavin A. (Arsenal)

Milan vs Palermo HIGHLIGHTS 0-2
Dec 13, 2009 3:00 PM CET
Stadium: Stadio San Siro - Milano
Referee: Bergonzi
Scorer: (Palermo) 49' Miccoli F., 62' Bresciano M.
Top of the match: Miccoli F (Palermo)

Atalanta vs Inter Milan HIGHLIGHTS 1-1
Dec 13, 2009 3:00 PM CET
Stadium: Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia - Bergamo
Referee: Rizzoli
Scorer: (Atalanta) 81' Tiribocchi S. (Inter Milan) 15’ Milito D.
Top of the match: Milito D. (Inter Milan)

Arsène Wenger will not allow Cesc Fabregas to play in a friendly game for Catalonia on December 22.

Manager Johan Cryuff has selected the midfielder for the international against Argentina at the Nou Camp but his Arsenal manager has refused to let him go.

However the message has not got through yet because Wenger has been unable to make contact with his opposite number.

"We don't allow the players to play in friendlies because we have too many games," said the Frenchman.

"You know what happens here in England, we play football through the Christmas period. But in all the other countries they stop and play friendlies and charity games.

"There is a demand for Cesc but there is a demand for five or six other players. We play on December 27 and I didn't rest the players against Olympiacos [to then] let them play a friendly.

"I tried to call [Cryuff] back [to tell him but] I couldn't get in touch with him. I don't know if he doesn't use a mobile or I tried to call him in the mountains somewhere but I haven't heard back."

Despite drawing against Everton, Carlo Ancelotti said he was satisfied with his side's performance today but disappointed with the result.

The Italian was pleased with Chelsea's intensity and concentration against Everton and felt the team were unlucky not to win the fixture.

'I am happy because Chelsea played very well for 90 minutes but I am unhappy with the result, we didn't win,' explained Ancelotti.

'When you play like Chelsea played today you deserve to win. We didn't win, we made mistakes on the set plays and if I have to look at the team we played very well for 90 minutes. We created a lot of chances to score and we were unlucky today.'

The Blues conceded from set plays as both the first and final Everton goal arrived following fouls 35 yards out, with Chelsea sitting very deep in defence for each freekick.

'We didn't deal with the set plays well,' insisted Ancelotti.

'We were down very close to the goal and it was necessary to stay a little bit up.

'Now we have to work on the set plays and we have to improve.'

However, our manager was keen to stress the goals arrived from a failure to deal with the situations as a team, not any single player.

'It is not an individual mistake. We kept 10 players in the box and we conceded a goal, it is a collective mistake.'

But regardless of whether the goals arrived through failure to deal with set pieces, Everton manager David Moyes felt the draw was the best result his side has produced this season.

'It was a great draw for us,' said Moyes.

'I would certainly have taken a draw before the game; we were really worried about how it would end up.

'But in the end we showed great resilience, endeavour and we played well, great credit to the boys who played today.'

With a point secured we now sit three clear at the top of the table, but with a late kick off between Aston Villa and Manchester United there's a chance the Red Devils could be even with us before the day is out.

'Maybe Manchester United can arrive at the same position as us and maintain the top of the league but there will be a lot of games before the end of the season,' explained Ancelotti.

The worry now for many fans could be the departure of Didier Drogba to the African Cup of Nations for a large majority of those remaining games. But despite losing four members of his first team to the competition, Ancelotti reiterated he was sure there would be no new arrivals in January.

'In January I would like to say for the last time we won't try for anybody, of this I am 100 per cent sure,' added Ancelotti, insisting he had full confidence in his current squad.

'I don't lose any trust in my players and in my team.

'I am more than happy that we have a point rather than see a team without intensity or without concentration.

'I don't have to say anything of my players because they did the maximum today.'

Three days after the match on Tuesday, Ciro Ferrara is forced to comment another defeat. Even though between the matches against Bayern and Bari there are no similarities. At the San Nicola, Juve played a good match and this does nothing but make the situation even more bitter.

The Juventus coach analyzed the match starting from this aspect. Today everything went wrong for us and for this reason I cannot blame the team for anything. Tonight we could have played for a much longer time and the ball would not have entered the net. They made three attempts and scored them all. It was not easy to prepare the match after what happened during the week. We came here to play with humility against a good Bari. Diego? Penalties unfortunately can also be missed and he was very sorry. At this moment we must be close to him and not make him feel too much responsibility.