Carra Excited By Optimism Surrounding New Season

Jamie Carragher insists optimism levels around Melwood are well in the ascendancy following a busy summer at Liverpool FC.

The vice-captain believes the arrivals of Roy Hodgson, Joe Cole and Milan Jovanovic, added to Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres committing their futures to the club, means there is an air of excitement within the Reds camp ahead of Sunday's big Barclays Premier League kick-off against Arsenal.
"We have got to look forward with great excitement," said Carragher. "Last season never went well but we have got to forget about it and put it behind us. Just like when Rafa Benitez and Gerard Houllier came in, everyone got a lift.
"That's the way it is. We are not a club that changes manager every couple of years. But it's not just that. We have made a couple of good signings, like Joe Cole. Not only that, two of the best players in the world have just committed their futures.
"That is absolutely massive and has given everyone the kind of lift we needed. We have got to be positive and I see no reason why we can't do well but the proof, as always, will be provided by the performances we produce on the pitch."
Liverpool narrowly missed out on qualification for the Champions League last term, but Carragher feels the lessons learned in 2009-10 will stand the Reds in good stead in the new season.
He continued: "You have got to remember that right until the end, we were still in with a chance of getting into the top four.
"I know people are writing us off and saying we have got no chance but I've no doubt that we will improve.
"We are not the type of club that says we are going to do this or that. But now is the time for everyone to come together again and show that we can leave last year's form well behind. There will be new ideas, difference voices on the training ground and all that helps."
2010-11 represents Carragher's 15th season in the first team at Anfield and the centre-back admits the challenge of retaining his place in the side remains as fiercely contested as ever as he attempts to showcase his qualities to new boss Hodgson.
"You never know what might happen," he said. "Last year after a few games, the whole world had written me off and said I was finished.
"But in the second half of the season, along with Mascherano and Pepe, I was probably one of the most consistent players and when you look at how the defence played, we managed to keep 18 clean sheets.
"That's gone now and you have to do it all again. There is going to be a challenge and it has always been the case that players will want to take your place but you just have to be ready for the challenge.
"I played every week for Rafa for six years but I've got to prove myself again. Even if Rafa had still been here that would have been the case. There will be a time when I don't play 50 games a season but I've no intention of it happening this year."
He added: "There is one thing that will never change. Liverpool will always be expected to do well and the pressure for us to be successful is just as intense as it was all those years ago; it might even be more. It will be like that for years to come."