Carragher should be first choice for England

LIVERPOOL manager Rafael Benitez cannot understand why Jamie Carragher is not one of England’s first-choice central defenders.

The 29-year-old was outstanding in the 1-0 defeat by Barcelona which saw the Reds progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League on away goals after a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp.

During a tense 90 minutes at Anfield, Carragher shackled the combined talents of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o, drawing fulsome praise from a usually reserved Benitez.