Carragher, whose own goal cancelled out Dirk Kuyt's opener, has urged his colleagues to not lose heart and to keep fighting.

"Look how Chelsea have reacted since we beat them and how Manchester United reacted when they lost to us," he told Sky Sports News."

"They've been on a great run since. It's how you come back from your setbacks that counts. This will be a test for us now. "

"If you want to show you're championship contenders it's how you bounce back that matters."

As Stoke showed yesterday, nothing can be taken for granted in the Premier League, and Liverpool must retain focus if their title challenge is to be maintained.

"We have a quality. We have the mentality to win titles but we need to take our chances,"

The Anfield giants passed and retained the ball with ease in treacherous, soggy conditions and were incisive going forward until Carragher's moment of misfortune rattled them.

Benitez added: "To lose a game like this is really disappointing but we don't have to be worried about the performance, the character or the quality of the team."

"I am really disappointed but it was bad luck because everybody could see we were better than them. As a team we were really good but we need to take our chances. That makes the difference in a game like this."

On the contrary

Our magnificent win

"We did not sell Xabi in the summer because the price was not good enough for such a talented player."

“You look at positives and a big one for us was beating United without those two,” explained the Spaniard, “After that game, you could see how much more confidence the players had.”
“Sometimes you can have good players but not a good team. But I believe we have both. You just have to be ready for when you are needed,” said Benitez before concluding, “I have a lot of faith and belief in the others in my squad.”

Just so you know