Pepe Reina targets fifth as Liverpool FC trophy dreams dashed by Braga in Europa League

Mar 18 2011 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

PEPE REINA insists Liverpool can still qualify for Europe next season – despite crashing out of the Europa League at Anfield last night.

The Reds were held to a goalless draw by Braga and were beaten 1-0 on aggregate.

Winning the trophy was Liverpool’s best hope of securing a passage into continental competition once again.

Sixth place in the Premier League is unlikely to be good enough but Reina insists overhauling fifth-placed Tottenham, who are six points clear with a game in hand, remains a realistic target.

“We have to keep going and of course fifth place is still achievable,” he said.

“We have got nine games to play and a lot of points to play for.

“Tottenham are still involved in the Champions League and they have some tough games.

“Everyone knows it’s going to be difficult but hopefully we will win enough games to get fifth.

“It’s always important for this club to be involved in European competition.

“And you can’t say we are not going to play in Europe next year because fifth place is still available.”

The Spanish keeper, who made his 300th appearance for the club last night, was left cursing Liverpool’s failure to make their possession count.

Reina said: “We tried everything. Give credit to Braga, they were really brave. They made it really difficult for us.

“We tried as hard as we can but we weren’t able to break them down and they deserved to go through. They defended really well and really high which made it difficult for us.

“We are all really disappointed. It’s a difficult moment for us and it’s not nice.

“We know it’s not a trophy we can fight for now. We have to make sure we finish the league as high as possible.”

Reina insists Liverpool must recover quickly from last night’s setback as they set their sights on Sunday’s Premier League trip to Sunderland.

He’s keen to avenge their controversial defeat with the aid of a beach ball at the Stadium of Light last season.

“It’s not about how you get knocked out, it’s about how you react,” he said.

“We are Liverpool and we have to react. We have to pick ourselves up for Sunday now.

“We have to look at the big picture and I think we are improving. We have been better in the last three months and that’s positive. We have to try hard to finish fifth.

“Our record against Sunderland isn’t especially great and away it will be tough. I hope there will be no beach balls this time.

“We just have to forget about what happened tonight and get ready for Sunday.”