JAMIE CARRAGHER underlined the importance of Fernando Torres’s return as he made a scoring comeback at Preston on Saturday.

But the defender believes that the position Liverpool have got themselves into during his absence is a good indication of their ability to cope without him.

With Liverpool taking a three-point lead at the top of the Premier League into the new year, they have maintained a challenge for the title without the Spanish star.

He missed the whole of December with a hamstring injury and although the side initially struggled for goals in his absence, eight in their last two league games have proved they have the strength in depth to cope.

Not that Carragher, however, isn’t delighted to see Torres back in the side and back on the scoresheet.

“Having Torres back has given everyone a big lift,” he said.

“It is great when you see a player of that calibre coming back for the second half of the season.

“Hopefully, the time he has been out will refresh him because he had a long season with the Euros.

“A lot of players have played a lot of games this season because the manager hasn’t changed it around so much and it will be good to have someone like him to come back in.”

Carragher added: “It has been a feather in the cap for everyone concerned with the club that we have reached the top of the table without having the best striker in the world over the last 12 months for periods.

“You miss a player of that quality, but it will give us a lift to have him out there.”

Carragher was involved in one of the strangest incidents during Saturday’s FACup third round tie at Deepdale, when Preston had a goal disallowed.

Jon Parkin appeared to have been bundled over by Carragher from a free-kick but when the referee played on, Sean St Ledger headed in what seemed to be the equaliser.

However, as the cross came in, Parkin had bizarrely rugby tackled Carragher to the floor as they both tried to regain their feet – and the assistant referee spotted the unnecessary infringement and flagged immediately.

Carragher said: “We both tangled and were on the floor and I realised that everyone had pushed out and I would be playing everyone onside.

“I tried to get up and he's a big lad, he was on top of me and wouldn’t let me get up.

“Fortunately, the linesman spotted it because if that had counted it would have got the crowd up and turned into a very difficult game.”

Carragher added: “We can play better than that, but the other team always raises it's game in the FA Cup.

“We have found these sort of matches difficult in recent seasons – Luton, Burnley, Barnsley – so we are pleased to get through against a good Championship side.

“In the second half they put us under a lot of pressure and took us to the last minute. There was a bit of scramble just before we scored the second so it could have gone either way. Great credit to Preston.”