Jamie Carragher calls on Liverpool to mount title challenge to draw level with Manchester United next season

Jamie Carragher, Liverpool

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists his side must not wait for Manchester United to slip up to stand a chance of regaining their record of league title wins.

The Old Trafford outfit need only a point to win the Premier League, which would be the 19th top-flight title in the club’s history, surpassing Liverpool’s record of 18.

Now the experienced defender has called on his team-mates to put in their best effort to win the league themselves.

“If we want that record back, we have to win leagues ourselves – we can’t keep hoping other teams stop Manchester United winning it,” the Reds legend insisted.

“We are not a club that wants to rely on others for help. Liverpool has never been that way and never will be.

“We don’t want to be looking to Chelsea or Arsenal or anyone else to stop Man United winning the title.

“If we want to be seen as the most successful club in the country again, we’ve got to do it on our own, and the only way of us getting back on top is us winning titles, not trying to stop them.

“In that respect, losing the record is not something we are going to dwell on. We can’t be feeling sorry for ourselves. Of course, it is disappointing and frustrating but the only way we can change it for the better is by looking after ourselves.”

And despite Liverpool failing to win the title since 1990, Carragher gave United credit for their success over the past two decades.

“Credit to them. They are a great team and a great club and they deserve their success, even if they are our rivals,” he said. “But they go about their business, we go about ours and we need to improve – hopefully we will next season.

“We can’t go blaming anyone else for the fact United look like they are going to win a 19th title.

“We’ve had a couple of chances since we last won it in 1990 but, for one reason or another, we haven’t been able to take them.

“The biggest one was in 1997 when we got beaten by Coventry at home and United ended up going on to win it.”

But the Reds have been resurgent under the guidance of Kenny Dalglish, showing a rich vein of form since his appointment.

“Things are looking promising again and we have hit a great run of form,” said Carragher. “We played really well at Fulham on Monday and we are all happy, but you won’t find anyone getting carried away.

“We’ve just got to make sure we finish the season well, as we want to play in Europe next season.

“There will be big expectations next season but that is always the way with Liverpool. It’s certainly not something we are going to complain about.”