Carragher: Top four a priority

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says the club will be concentrating on regaining their place in the top four next season.

The Reds finished the last campaign in a disappointing seventh place after facing strong challenges from the likes of Aston Villa, Manchester City and Tottenham for the final the Champions League spot.

Spurs eventually grabbed the sought after place to break the once dominant hold Liverpool had at the top of the Premier League, alongside Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal.

But off-the-field turbulence at Anfield has continued to rumble throughout the week and manager Rafa Benitez is unlikely to have the funds he desires to bolster his squad.

And Carragher says his side will focus on climbing back up the table - rather than mounting a strong title challenge - because of the shortage of cash available to their Spanish manager to strengthen.

The England stopper said in The People: "Clubs like Real Madrid and Inter Milan can just throw £100million at new players if they don't win the title.

"But Liverpool can't do that. We have to build. We can't just raid the transfer market.

"Next season, rather than thinking too much about the title, we have to concentrate on getting back in the top four."