No excuses from Carra

Last updated : 18 January 2008 By Al Campbell
Liverpool have had a mediocre start to 2008, a start that is solely down to the players' performances on the pitch and not the off-field problems according to Jamie Carragher.

"We are all aware of what is going on but all we can do as players is just concentrate on doing it on the pitch," said the Reds' vice-captain.

"As players, we have to take responsibility to sort things out on the pitch. Anything that goes on off it is nothing to do with us.

"We are paid to play and we did that on Tuesday, but we know we need to improve over the next few weeks because we know in the last nine or 10 games we haven't been good enough.

"I know some people say what happens off the pitch affects players. Maybe it does. But it doesn't affect me. Why should it? I am paid to play, your wages are still coming in, you are still playing for Liverpool, so I don't know why it should affect players. To be honest, I don't know if it does that much.

"If I was in a foreign country and there was something like this going on I don't think I would care or be bothered about it.

"I think it is an excuse just as it was at the start of the season to point to Pako leaving. We had a few bad results and everyone was talking.

"I said then that you have to be strong mentally to play for Liverpool. Things happen off the pitch but don't let it affect you.

"The results weren't great in the Premiership last season so what was that down to, know what I mean? The results haven't been good enough because we haven't been good enough. End of story."