Carragher was among a host of senior Reds players who reported back to pre-season training yesterday.

Amongst them were promising youngsters Stephen Darby and Jay Spearing, who have agreed new three-year contracts, while Israeli international Yossi Benayoun is also set to become the latest Liverpool star to commit his future to the Reds.

Although Glen Johnson remains Liverpool’s one signing so far this summer, Benitez has retained the services of Reds stars Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, Daniel Agger and Dirk Kuyt with all four having committed themselves to new long term contracts.

Benitez said: “We had to guarantee the future of the club first and then afterwards if you can improve then you must try to do so.

“This meant that the first thing we had to do this summer was to guarantee the futures of some of the players who are already here and we are happy that we have been able to do this in so many cases.”

The majority of the first team squad returned to Melwood for a series of drills and tests ahead of pre-season trips to Switzerland, the Far East, Spain and Norway.

Johnson will join up with his new teammates for the first time tomorrow. He will take part in his first Melwood training session having been allowed an extra few days off, along with Steven Gerrard following their efforts on international duty with England.

The Reds Spanish contingent do not return until July 19 following their involvement in the recently concluded Confederations Cup.