CALM DOWN; PREMIER LEAGUE: LIVERPOOL v HULL CITY TODAY, KO 3PM: Rafa's plea: Lay off Carra.

Byline: DAVID MADDOCK

RAFA BENITEZ has offered massive backing to underfire Jamie Carragher by insisting the defender is getting better and has years left at the top.

The Liverpool centre-half has been the subject of some rare criticism from fans, who have seized on some early-season mistakes to suggest the former England man may be losing it.

His manager accepts Carra's form and condition at the start of the campaign weren't at the very highest level.

But he believes that was merely the result of pre-season stamina work, and Benitez argued yesterday the international defender is actually a better player now than he was five years ago.

"I knew Carra because we played against Liverpool with Valencia, and he was a good player then, but I think he is a much better player now because his understanding of the game is much better," said Benitez.

"I think you are a better defender at 31 than 26. He knows his best position now, he knows his role and what he has to do.

"Of course he makes mistakes like everyone but he is also a talker, giving advice to the others.

"I am not worried if he has made an individual mistake. He is better now, and there are no worries about him at all."

Benitez explained that his vicecaptain has worked hard since the start of the season to improve his condition, and his pace.

The criticism has hurt, but the Liverpool manager argued that it is not simply a question of one defender being singled out, but the entire team for how they defend.

"I have been talking to him about his physical condition, and his fitness tests are better than the beginning of the season so it's okay," Benitez said.

"He made mistakes, it's obvious but it's a team that has to improve defensively. Carra isn't susceptible to pace - I can guarantee you I was checking the data and he is quicker than he was in August when we were doing the tests.

"He is a player who is fit, training really well and has no injuries so he is taking care of himself. He has a lot of years to play.

"In the summer you do stamina work, not pace, but he has been working on that, and he is quicker and fitter now."

As Liverpool prepare to entertain Hull City, Benitez knows his side are a much deadlier attacking proposition at home this season than last.

But he knows that has its downside, with the team also shipping more goals than the previous campaign.

"We must find a better balance between attack and defence and stop the counter-attack. It's not one player or the other but the team who must defend better," he said.

"We are scoring more goals, but now we must find the defending that we had.

"We are not playing a higher line than last year, and the level of defending is more or less the same, Maybe because Glen Johnson goes further forward we are more exposed in certain areas."

CAR CRASHJamie Carragher after scoring an own goal for Hull last season. Above: Paul McShane hit Hull's first at Anfield