Jamie Carragher in title warning

Jul 30 2007 by Ian Doyle, Liverpool Daily Post

Jamie Carragher, of Liverpool FC, celebrates _158

LIVERPOOL may be looking to end the Premier League reign of north west rivals Manchester United, but Jamie Carragher believes Chelsea will be the team to beat this season.

“United may be the champions but Chelsea are really the ones you have to use as your yardstick,” said the centre-back. “With Petr Cech being back at his peak, there is no better keeper and John Terry in front of him is going to give Chelsea a real chance again.

“United are a great side and have strengthened again. Carlos Tevez would make a big difference to their chances. Hopefully, they won’t get him.

“But the team which finishes above Chelsea will win it this season.”

Carragher is keen to add a championship medal to his personal collection which already includes European Champions League and FA Cup successes.

But he has echoed the views of his Anfield teammates that Liverpool cannot afford to be left standing at the starting line again this season.

And Carragher believes manager Rafael Benitez’s £40 million plunge into the transfer market to add strike power in the shape of Fernando Torres, Yossi Benayoun, Andrei Voronin and Ryan Babel is also important.

Carragher said “The manager has created a solid team over the past two or three years. The next step is to take it that little bit further and maybe score the goals that Manchester United and Chelsea do.

“We have great confidence in the players the manager has brought in. They have looked very good in training.”