Gerrard aims for higher ground

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has said qualifying for the Champions League is the club’s top priority for the coming campaign.

Liverpool were a club in disarray in January, with dreadful form in the English Premier League leading to the sacking of manager Roy Hodgson.

Since then, they have appointed club legend Kenny Dalglish as manager – first as a caretaker and now on a permanent basis – and captured the signatures of Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and Sunderland young gun Jordan Henderson.

Speaking to Liverpool’s official website, England midfielder Gerrard stopped short of promising a return to Europe’s premier club competition but said that goal is definitely in the thinking of all at Anfield for the 2011/12 season.

“I’d love nothing better than to lead the lads to some silverware next year but I don’t want to raise expectation by saying that will definitely happen,” Gerrard said.

“It would be stupid of me to raise expectations any more than they are already. At the beginning of every season at Liverpool expectations rise, and now that Kenny is staying and with a few signings I’m sure it’ll go through the roof.”

“Getting in the Champions League will be the main aim. I think it is for all the clubs in the Premier League. For financial reasons it’s so important but it’s also the biggest competition for players individually at club level.”

“Everyone wants to be involved in it, we’ve had some fantastic nights at Anfield over the years in the competition and we all want to see those nights return.”

“We just need to continue what we’ve been doing during the last six months.”

“Hopefully we’ll add some more players to strengthen the squad and then we need to compete. We are good enough to beat anyone on our day, we just need to find the consistency to challenge for honours.”

Gerrard missed the last two months of the 2010/11 season after the 31-year-old was forced to have surgery on his groin, but said he was aiming for a return to his brilliant best after a full pre-season.

“I’ve had it sorted with surgery and hopefully next year I’ll be fit and available after a good rest, with a brand new groin and ready to push on under Kenny,” he said.

“I’m due to come back after 12 weeks, so it’ll be around when the lads return on July 4-5. Then I’ve got six weeks of pre-season to get match fit, so by the time the league starts I’m hoping to be in good shape.”