• Dutch winger admits morale is low at Anfield
• ‘We can’t create a kind of confidence with winning games’

Ryan Babel has admitted Liverpool’s confidence is at such a low ebb that they were lacking in self-belief prior to their defeat at Wigan Athletic.

Liverpool had hauled themselves back into contention for the fourth Champions League qualifying place with a run of only one defeat in 10 league games before the trip to the DW Stadium yesterday. Their subsequent performance and first ever league defeat against Wigan prompted rare public criticism from the manager Rafael Benítez towards his players, who he accused of having the wrong attitude and showing a lack of character in the first half of the game.

Babel suggests Liverpool’s problems are more deep-rooted, however, with the frank admission their hard-fought recovery in the Premier League could not remedy fragile confidence in a season of frequent set-backs. “It is disappointing that we can’t create a kind of confidence with winning games. One defeat seems to spoil all the confidence that we have and then we have to start again,” said the Dutch international.

Liverpool remain in sixth following yesterday’s defeat and only one point behind fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, although Spurs, Manchester City and Aston Villa all have games in hand in the congested race for Champions League qualification.

Babel added: “We still have hope and faith that we can get fourth place. It will be harder in every game. It was going to be difficult even before this game. We needed to get three points and that’s why the disappointment is so big that we failed.

“We will analyse everything. We have made it a little difficult for ourselves. We had space in the first half to play football but then they scored and it upset things. They stayed behind the ball and it was hard for us.”

Roberto Martínez, the Wigan manager, admitted his tactics had succeeded in producing a frustrated reaction from Liverpool at the DW Stadium, where they collected five bookings. The Spaniard said: “You have to give us credit. We caused them to be frustrated. They couldn’t find a way through and there was a frustrated reaction from Liverpool, but that was down to the work ethic and understanding between the Wigan Athletic players.”

Liverpool travel to France on Thursday ahead of the Europa League last-16 first-leg tie against Lille, who are fifth in Ligue

• Carragher’s contract expires at end of the season
• Defender says he is not afraid of bold decisions

Jamie Carragher says he will have no difficulty leaving Liverpool if the club where he has spent his whole career chooses not to extend his contract, which expires at the end of next season.

“The club will give me a new contract if they want to,” he told the Sunday Times. “If not, it doesn’t matter, I’ll still play my best and if I have to move then I’ll move, no problem. It wouldn’t bother me.”

The 32-year-old defender would like to stay at Anfield but said his decision to retire from England duty in 2007 showed he was not afraid of bold decisions.

“I made the England decision quickly and didn’t dwell on it and I’m not scared of making big decisions. It’s a club thing. It’s down to them. I’ll keep playing and see where it takes me.”

Liverpool’s manager, Rafael Benítez, said there are no talks planned with the defender. “We’re happy to wait,” the Spaniard said. “When you talk about players over 30 it’s not the same as those who are 25 or goalkeepers, who will have a long-term contract. With Carra, we will wait and see.”

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