Benitez blasts Carra critics

Rafa Benitez has defended Jamie Carragher amidst criticism of his performances so far this season.

Liverpool have stuttered so far and have already lost the same number of games they lost in the whole of last season.

They have also conceded seven goals in five games but speaking off the back of yesterday’s clean sheet against Burnley, Benitez said it was wrong to blame the defence for poor performances.

Carragher in particular had come under criticism after he was labelled as lacking the pace and fitness required to perform in the top flight. However, Benitez does not believe this to be the case.

“When the team hasn’t done well it is the defenders who take the rap,” Benitez said in the Daily Star Sunday.

“When you are losing, they will get criticised more than the strikers. Jamie is still a top player. He’s training as always. He’s fit and quick and he will always be the same. He’s a professional who has taken care of himself, so I don’t see him slowing down quickly.”

Benitez believes that Carragher has had to shoulder far too much responsibility this season and he has urged his defenders to help out. “It depends now on the team. If they help the defenders it will be easy for the defenders to play well,” he explained.

“It’s more difficult for Carragher because he’s been playing with a lot of team-mates. He likes to talk but the other players around him are important too. If he doesn’t need to be talking much it’s easier for him to focus on his own game.”