Carra backs duo

Last updated : 02 August 2009 By Al Campbell
The Reds' vice-captain believes if the pair stay fit they can help fire Rafael Benitez's side to the league title.

"No other team in England has a partnership like Gerrard and Torres," said Carragher.

"It's strange to be talking about Stevie as a striker now but that's what he's become, and in that position, just behind the main forward, there is no one better.

"In fact, there is no better strike pairing in the world than Gerrard and Torres. They can tear defences wide open in a split second.

"When you have that kind of ability in your team it gives you incredible belief. If we can keep them both free of injury then we are going to take some stopping. There were times last year when we went into games without them and it showed.

"It was great to see them both sign new contracts this summer - they are the most important players in our team.

"If they stay fit and continue to improve then I think we will go very close. We all hope this will be our year, but we'll have to play as well as we did last season and turn the draws that damaged us into wins.

"People say that you have to go close first before you actually win the title and we couldn't have pushed United any closer last season - now it's all about taking that final step.

"You go into every game knowing that it's must-win and we handled it pretty well, apart from a certain stage of the season which cost us the league.

"Stevie didn't want the season to end last time. I was the same because we'd pushed United all the way.

"We finished on a great run and were probably as good as anyone in Europe although, obviously, Barcelona were in great form at the end of the season, too.

"We were the form team in the Premier League and, hopefully, we can start where we left off."