Liverpool’s Jose Enrique set his sights on a top-four finish

Jose Enrique believes Liverpool can challenge for a top-four finish next season.

Brendan Rodgers’s men ended the season in style, with just one defeat in 13 Premier League games – but still finished 12 points adrift of fourth-placed Arsenal.

Enrique feels that the Reds were made to pay for a sluggish start to the campaign under the new manager but is confident Liverpool will challenge for a Champions League spot next term.

“The top four has to be our target next season,” Enrique told the Liverpool Echo.

“It will be difficult as even with new managers the top clubs will spend a lot this summer to strengthen. But, to be honest, I don’t think we have to
worry about the rest, we just have to worry about ourselves.

“The reason we weren’t in the top four this season isn’t because of any other team, it’s because of our own mistakes. I think this is the best league in the world with so many teams fighting for those top places. Next season we hope we will be there.

“In terms of where we are in the league, it has not been a great season for us. Liverpool cannot be there – they have to be much higher for sure.

“You can see there are 12 points difference between us and the top four, but in terms of being a football team we have moved forward.

“We had some problems earlier in the season when we lost many points and now we regret that. We wanted to do well from the start but it was a different type of football with a new manager and a new type of training.

“I was one of those players who had played this style before when I was in Spain but a lot of players were not used to it.

“Brendan wants us to play good football and I think every player is really happy with this way of working. Of course it takes time but since January we have done really well. Come next season we will be more used to this style and the system and we’ll work better together.”