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Liverpool will benefit from Torres sale - Carragher

Jamie Carragher feels Liverpool may be in a better position after their January dealings © PA Photos

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Jamie Carragher has refused to criticise Fernando Torres for forcing through a move to Chelsea and believes Liverpool will be better off without the striker.

Torres incurred the wrath of Liverpool supporters after handing in a transfer request just days before the close of the transfer window, and his £50 million move was sealed on deadline day.

Many fans were particularly unhappy at the timing of his request, but Carragher feels they should be focusing on supporting new signings Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll.

"I'm not going to criticise him," Carragher told TalkSPORT. "We bought him for 20-odd million we sold him for 50. Whether people agree with how he's gone, supporters can't deny he was an absolutely fantastic player for Liverpool.

"His goals record was up there with the greats - Rush, Aldridge, Fowler, Owen. Unfortunately he decided to go, but that's football. Players move on and we have to accept that now and not criticise Torres, but use our energies to get behind the two new boys."

He added: "I think for us it was probably better that Fernando moved on, if he didn't 100% want to be here or it was going to happen in the summer, and it's probably better for everyone all round.

"I think it's been in the offing since the summer. We always felt that at some stage this season or maybe the end of the season this may happen."

Carragher feels Suarez, 24, and Carroll, 22, could go on to enjoy long-term success at Anfield.

"We've got two young hungry lads, who have got a lot to prove for Liverpool over the next few years, and hopefully the two of them will be here for the next decade," he said.

"They're that young that they could possibly play ten years for the club, if everything went well and they performed well together. So, from that point of view, we can look at it and say we're pleased with what we've brought in and what business we've done."

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