Carragher - Pool have the beating of United

Jamie Carragher insists Liverpool now have genuine title credentials after burying their Manchester United hoodoo last season.

Liverpool beat United three times and then finished above Alex Ferguson’s side in the Barclaycard Premiership, and Carragher feels getting the better of their north west rivals was a major breakthrough for the club after three seasons of continued improvement.

And the England defender, battling back from a knee operation, now feels the club is in a great position for a tilt at the title this year.

“The real boost was to have finished above Manchester United,” he said.

“In the past couple of seasons we’ve done well against them but we’ve always, in the past, deep down not really fancied it much when we have played them. That has changed.

“It gave us a lot of confidence because they were a great side and brought a lot of new players in last summer, so to finish above them was a great boost for us all. A great achievement considering the money they spent last summer.”

It’s that insight into what was almost an inferiority complex in the past, which underlines Liverpool’s transformation under Gerard Houllier.

And despite some worrying pre-season defeats by Lazio, Real Madrid and Arsenal, Carragher believes Liverpool can build on last season’s runners-up triumph.

He said: “Last season the 80 points we got would have won the title in most other seasons. If we get 80 points again we will win the league.

“We are quietly confident we will be there at the end fighting for it, have no fear about that.”

Carragher is targeting Sunday’s opening game at Aston Villa to complete a comeback which has so far been limited to a couple of substitute appearances.

He said: “My own recovery has been very good. The surgeon I saw in the States is the best man, it may have cost a few quid but it’s got me back about a month earlier. I have been coming in every day and working hard with the physios.

“I have only had a few minutes on the pitch while the rest of the lads have had five games or more. I’m not quite there yet but I am certainly over the injury and could play now if I’m wanted.”