JAMIE CARRAGHER believes that Rafael Benitez will use the relaxed approach to training this week in the hope that it will help Liverpool to power themselves back into the Premier League title race by defeating Manchester United next Sunday.

Sunderland’s first win over one of the so-called big four since 2002 has left Liverpool seven points adrift of leaders United with nine matches played.

It was the Reds’ third successive defeat, their second in the Premier League following the loss at Chelsea a fortnight earlier, and one which looks to have ended Liverpool’s title hopes in mid-October.

But Carragher, whose side also need to get their Champions League campaign back on track against Lyon tomorrow night, said: “Every game we play for Liverpool is huge and this was always going to be a massive week, a few people were writing us off and I am sure a few more will now.

“But I have been here for 15 years and we have been written off so many times but we always fight back because we are Liverpool, we are a massive club and we’ve got character.

“The manager will stay calm because he has the experience and he knows in football you go through these spells. That is why you are a top club because you have been through these spells, and have to show the character to come through it.

“I would not say this is one of the biggest weeks of my life. I have played in Champions League finals, but it is always a massive week when you play for Liverpool.

“We were playing away and the atmosphere was magnificent because they were playing Liverpool.

“That is what happens at a club like ours. These two games to come will be just like that as well.”

Liverpool’s fourth defeat of the season arrived in the absence Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard, who returned from international duty nursing injuries.

But Benitez refused to use their non-availability as an excuse.

“Both players are very important to us, but still we have enough quality in the squad,”

he said.

“I’m not saying we would be able to win 12 games in a row without Stevie or Fernando but to win games, we have enough quality.

“I think a lot of players tried to step up, but also Sunderland worked very hard, they pressed with intensity all the time and it wasn’t an easy game to play.

“Hopefully the Manchester United game will be a good thing for us.

“You know that if you win that kind of game, everything changes for you.’’