Carragher earns kudos from manager Benitez

LONDON - JAMIE Carragher's contribution in Liverpool's Champions League win over Barcelona drew high praise from manager Rafael Benitez, a man more comfortable praising team efforts.

Such was the individual prowess shown by Carragher, said Benitez, that it merited a special mention and begged the question why the 29-year-old is not an England regular.

Liverpool lost 0-1 at home to Barcelona on Tuesday, but their 2-1 victory at the Nou Camp a fortnight earlier meant they booked a place in the quarter-finals.

During a tense match at Anfield, Carragher managed to shackle the combined talents of Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o.

'It surprises me that Jamie is not a regular in the England team,' said Benitez of the player who has won 32 caps, of which only 18 have been in the starting line-up.

'I don't like praising just one player after a performance like that against Barcelona. Everyone contributed.

'But it was an astonishing performance from Jamie.

'When defenders like Jamie have to play against world-class players like Ronaldinho, it is important that they do not make mistakes - and he didn't.

'He is such a good defender against the very best players and, yes, it is a surprise that such a good defender does not play every game for his country.'

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard added: 'I know England manager Steve McClaren was at Anfield and, after seeing a performance like that, it is going to make his next team selection very interesting.'

Meanwhile, Peter Crouch will miss the first leg of Liverpool's Champions League quarter-final and England's two Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

He has decided to have surgery on his broken nose today.

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE