THERE’S only one thing worse than playing in a 3-0 defeat – not playing in it. So it’s not the result against Espanyol that should give anyone cause for concern ahead of the new season – it’s the fact that Jamie Carragher might not have one of his main defensive partners alongside him to take on Tottenham’s strikeforce a week on Sunday.

It’s typical that in the summer Liverpool let Sami Hyypia go that injuries to Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger have disrupted the pre-season preparations.

It seems that Agger will be okay for the beginning of the campaign which is a relief. But pre-season is like your revision – you need it to be ready for the tough examination. If you don’t do it, you struggle.

And having an experienced, established centre-back who is fully on his game and ready for the real business of the Premier League is vital.

Put two such defenders on the sidelines during those precious weeks of pre-season and suddenly White Hart Lane in less than two weeks time looks a very tough proposition.

At least Carragher will have no problems – in fact, he will be out of the traps like a greyhound after the amount of running he has had to do in these friendlies.

But even if Agger recovers as he is expected to, missing such a good test like the one Espanyol gave Liverpool on Sunday night is so unfortunate.