Adam demands Champions League qualification at Liverpool

19 Jul 2012 16:55:00

The Scottish star believes the Reds need to challenge for a top-four spot and is determined to make an impact next season after injury prematurely ended his campaign last term

Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam has set Champions League qualification as the main objective for the Reds next season.

The five-time European champions finished a disappointing 17 points off the top four last season but the 26-year-old believes the Reds have the ability to challenge the top sides.

He told Liverpool's official website: "We should be challenging for the Champions League, no doubt about that.

"You set your standards high and we've got a good group of players. People saw that last season and at times we were unlucky.

"We need to set our standards as high as we can, participate in every tournament we are in and try to win everything available to us."

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After missing the end of last season through injury the former Blackpool ace is looking to make up for lost time, starting with the Reds pre-season clash MLS side Toronto FC on Saturday.

He added: "I'm fine now, I was back training in the last week of the season basically and I had four weeks' break in the summer. I'm back now and I've joined in every session since the lads have been back.

"It's good to get going again because the last couple of months were frustrating but it's time to reflect on what you have done and it's good to be back in the groove again.

"It has been great for us to come here and get the work done in good conditions.

"The first 10 days of pre-season at home was a bit different, with the rain and the wind, but us coming here is good - and good to get some warm weather and put the good work in.

"For me it's about getting fit again and trying to get some minutes back on the pitch.

"Missing a couple of months at the end of the season was difficult so getting back on the pitch is probably the biggest thing for me, and hopefully showing the new manager what I can do."

Brendan Rodgers' appointment at Anfield looks set to bring a change of playing style, with the former Swansea boss renowned for favouring a possession-based brand of football, which the Reds will have to adapt to if they are to succeed, insists Adam.

He said: "The club has got a good manager who wants to get us to go and play and pass and press the ball.

"The new manager coming in is going to want to play the way he wants to play, and the lads have got to adapt to that, try to show why they want to be at this club, play as well as they can, and train as hard as they can."