<span class="titolo">Crouch Focused On Getting The Job Done</span></p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'></p> <span class="sommario">Liverpool striker Peter Crouch, who scored the fourth goal in the Reds' 4-1 victory over Porto in last night's Champions League Group A tie, has spoken of the importance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the competition - especially since his dream of reaching the Euro 2008 finals with England has been ended.</span></p> Liverpool need to beat Marseille at the Stade Velodrome next month to guarantee progress into the last 16 of the Champions League. Technically, they could get by with a draw - provided the other Group A game between Porto and Besiktas also ended all-square. But that is too big a gamble, so the Reds will be going all out for victory in France.</p> Having made such a poor start to their campaign - one point from the first nine on offer - they are least still very much in contention going into the final Matchday of the Group phase. Now they have to make sure.</p> Crouch reflected: "At the start of the season I certainly would not have envisaged there was a possibility I could miss out on the European Championships and the knock-out stages of the Champions League.</p> "Obviously, it is frustrating not to qualify for the European Championships. But England has been and gone now. I have to look to the future.</p> "We still have a chance to get to the knock-out stages with Liverpool. That is the only thing we can concentrate on now.</p> "We have done two-thirds of the job, now we have to finish it off."</p> There were some nervy Anfield moments against Porto - though the crowd were unceasing in their vocal support for manager Rafa Benitez in his feud over transfers with the club's owners - but it all came right in the end.</p> Fernando Torres put Liverpool ahead but they were pegged back by Porto before Torres again, Steven Gerrard and Crouch made it an emphatic scoreline.</p> "Things are coming together a bit now," said Crouch.</p> "Maybe we did not have the best of starts in Europe but we are still unbeaten in the League, which obviously we want to remain.</p> "We scored eight against Besiktas, three at Newcastle on Saturday and another four against Porto, so we are in confident mood just now and feel we can have a strong second half to the season.</p> "We did start slowly in this group and Marseille is going to be massive for us now.</p> "But we certainly have enough quality to reach the knock-out stages and if we do that, there is no reason why we cannot reach the final, as we have done in two of the past three seasons."</p> However, there is still speculation about Crouch's own future at Anfield.</p> Manchester City have been linked with a January move for the 26-year-old former Southampton and Aston Villa forward, and there have even been rumours about a possible swap deal with Sunderland for Kenwyne Jones.</p> The speculation stems from the Liverpool striker's limited opportunities at Anfield. Crouch has made just eight starts so far this season as Benitez has continually rotated his squad.</p> Benitez has also put himself on a collision course with the club's American co-owners, but Crouch revealed: "The manager has not sat us down or said anything.</p> "All we have heard has been through the press like everyone else.</p> "We are professional. We have to concentrate on what happens on the pitch. What goes on in the boardroom is not our concern.</p> "As a player, you have to compartmentalise things. There are so many outside influences and gossip in football, it is difficult to keep focused at times.</p> "But as players you have to do that. You have to block everything out and continue to win football matches.</p> "There was certainly no extra incentive to perform. We had enough incentive as it was."</p> </div></p>
