Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson has insisted that his aim of doing as well as possible in the Europa League has not been altered by the Reds' recent exit from the League Cup.
Hodgson played a weakened team against the Cobblers and exited the competition on penalties. Hodgson maintains that he is placing no extra significance on the Europa League as a result, but success is still his aim.
"Our priorities have been to do the best in every competition," Hodgson told reporters.
"Although these days I will be accused on not doing that because people will say the [weakened] team I played against Northampton was not the team to win the game.
"There certainly is not the gloom that you would like to suggest.
"But at the same time I can't say everyone is delighted with the start we have had because we are not.
"We would have liked to have been sitting near the top of the table with 12 or 14 points and we would have been happy as sand-boys.
"That's what we wanted but you don't always get what you want."
Hodgson remains confident that Liverpool can progress in the competition, though he acknowledges that they face a tough test on Thursday at FC Utrecht.
"We saw Utrecht beat Celtic 4-0 so we are under no illusions that we are playing a very good team and we will have to be very good if we are to get a result from the game," he added.
"Nine or 10 points is probably my guess [of what is required to progress] but don't put any money on it because I'm not very good at predicting these things."
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