London  - As Liverpool prepare for their first Champions League fixture of the season, manager Rafa Benitez hit out at those who have criticised veteran defender jamie Carragher.

Liverpool have begun the season uncertainly, losing to Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur - meaning they have already suffered as many league defeats as they did in the whole of last season.

Most troubling, they have looked defensively suspect, conceding seven goals in five games, leading to criticism of Carragher.

At 31, he perhaps lacks the pace of old, ad questions have been asked about his general fitness ahead of Liverpool's first group game against Hungarian newcomers Debrecen.

But Benitez still believes in the man who, along with midfielder and captain Steven Gerrard, symbolises the club.

"When the team hasn't done well it is the defenders who take the rap. When you are losing, they will get criticised more than the strikers," said Benitez.

"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."

Frustrated at only ever being a third or fourth choice, Carragher retired from international football during Steve McClaren's reign as coach, something which should help prolong his club career.

Benitez did, however, suggest that Carragher is feeling the strain of being the defensive organiser.

That burden has increased this season - if not on the pitch then at least at the training ground - with Sami Hyypia having left the club.

"It depends now on the team," he said. "If they help the defenders it will be easy for the defenders to play well.

"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," Benitez said. (dpa)