Kelly keen on Europa triumph

Kelly keen on Europa triumph

Published Feb. 15, 2011 6:44 p.m. ET

Liverpool defender Martin Kelly has set his sights on Europa League glory ahead of Thursday's last-32 first-leg tie at Sparta Prague.

Having gone unbeaten in their last six Premier League matches, Kelly believes re-starting their European programme in Prague on Thursday should hold no fears for them.

In the group phase, then manager Roy Hodgson chose to use fringe players in order to ensure his first-teamers were not overwhelmed by an arduous campaign which had disappointed in the early stages.

Kenny Dalglish will have no such concerns, however, as - buoyed by their unbeaten run which has lifted them to sixth and having a free weekend because of the FA Cup - he will select a strong squad.

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And with morale high and very few injuries to contend with Kelly believes there is no reason why they cannot be competitive on two fronts - even after the disappointment of a 1-1 draw against Wigan at the weekend ended a four-match winning streak.

"We would have wanted to get the win against Wigan but we have to put it behind us and look to our game against Sparta Prague on Thursday now," said the England Under-21 international.

"We've done well to progress and we want to go on to win it but we have to take it one game at a time.

"Any club can go on and win it so any game as a professional you want to win.

"That's our aim, but we'll take one game at a time. Our next one is the Sparta Prague one and that's what we're focused on.

"The knockout phase provides a different test than the group stages, you know you are up against good sides.

"We've got to get a good result over there so the second leg will be easier here at Anfield.

"I think the squad is pulling together now and you can see that on the pitch.

"We are trying to play our football, which is what we have been told to do, and hopefully we can get the result in the future."

Dalglish will make late decisions on the fitness of Steven Gerrard and Martin Skrtel as they both missed the game against Wigan through injury.

He still will not be able to call on club record signing Andy Carroll, who is continuing his rehabilitation work from a thigh problem at the club's Melwood training ground.

The former Newcastle striker could be set for a debut early next month and vice-captain Jamie Carragher is confident the new arrival will add an extra dimension to Liverpool's play.

"We've had big tall lads, people like Emile Heskey or Peter Crouch, who have done very well for us," said the defender.

"But Carroll has that aggression that makes defenders fear him.

"As a defender you know when you go into certain games against particular players that you're going to have a hard day.

"There aren't too many of them but I know few people will relish playing against Andy.

"You wake up in the morning and think, 'Ah God - I don't want to play against him.' Everyone who has faced him probably thinks, 'I don't need this today'."

Carragher also believes Carroll will work well alongside fellow new signing Luis Suarez, who has already made an impression after just two matches.

"They can become a partnership and bring other things to the team as a target man and someone who can feed off the pieces," Carragher told LFC Weekly.

"Likewise if one is injured, the other is still capable of playing on their own through the middle."

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