McCarthy: Reds still four-midable
The Reds, who visit Molineux tonight, have improved their chances of securing a Champions League place for next season by taking 10 points from their last four games.
McCarthy was impressed with the way they moved back into contention via their home victory over Tottenham last week.
And, although he believes Rafael Benitez’s side are not quite the same threat without Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, who have both missed chunks of the season, McCarthy still feels they have plenty of quality in depth.
He said: “When Liverpool have no Gerrard and Torres, they play exactly the same way, but not quite as well as if Gerrard and Torres were playing.
“But I watched them against Spurs last week and they performed very well.
“The team they put out that night was very solid and Dirk Kuyt, who got their two goals, was outstanding. To suggest when Gerrard and Torres don’t play means they are any less than a top-four team would be barmy.”
Liverpool captain Gerrard could be involved, having made a decent recovery from a hamstring injury.
For Wolves, McCarthy is set to involve French midfielder Adlene Guedioura who joined on loan yesterday from Charleroi.
He will link up with his Charleroi team-mate Geoffrey Mujangi Bia who also completed a temporary move from the Belgium club before the weekend.
McCarthy said: “We have been watching players abroad for 18 months and they were both highlighted by our scouting staff as very good players.
“I’ve seen bits of them myself on DVD but I trust my scouting people completely.”
McCarthy’s counterpart Rafa Benitez, meanwhile, is keen on Gerrard returning.
“He was training on Saturday and then a full training session on Sunday, and today was the same,” he said.
“Normally he’s someone who, if available, can play. We’ll decide tomorrow but I think he can be available.”
Benitez, meanwhile, played down claims by Sunderland counterpart Steve Bruce that the club have been “disrespectful” in their attempts to sign Black Cats striker Kenwyne Jones.
Bruce said last week that the Reds had tried to unsettle the Trinidad and Tobago international, whom Benitez is believed to want to sign on loan to cover for a six-week lay-off to striker Fernando Torres.
“I was not dealing with this,” said the Liverpool boss. “(Managing director) Christian Purslow has been talking with (Sunderland chairman) Niall Quinn so they have to manage the situation.”
Privately Liverpool are understood to be angry at Bruce’s comments, as it is understood preliminary talks have been taking place between the clubs since last month.
Tonight Benitez will look to extend a four-match unbeaten run. Victory at Molineux, combined with results going their way elsewhere, would see Liverpool move into the top four.
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