Carragher issues rallying cry

Jamie Carragher has demanded that every one of his Liverpool colleagues must improve if they are to have any chance of hanging on to the coat tails of the title leaders.

The tough talking defender was reacting amid the euphoria of Liverpool's stunning 8-0 Champions League mauling of Turkish side Besiktas - the biggest victory margin in the revamped competition's 15-year history.

But Carragher only has eyes for the next task at home to Fulham on Saturday and the need to claw back the six-point lead the leaders have built up over the Anfield men.

Carragher is more concerned with the fact that Liverpool have managed only one home league win this season - against bottom club Derby - along with four draws.

Carragher told Liverpoolfc.tv: 'It is vitally important we start turning these home draws into wins. Our away form is very good but we've drawn too many at home, and that's why we're a little bit behind in the league.

'The whole team has got to try to improve. Even if you think you're playing well you've got to do more, that's what football is all about.

'The other team will be looking for our weaknesses and I'm sure Fulham will think they can do something in a certain way and get something out of the game. We've all got to do a bit more and make sure we get something out of this game.

'No disrespect to Fulham, but if you have ideas of winning the league and you're playing them at home you have got to beat them.

'It is still very tight in the league. We are seventh but it is not where you are, it is the points difference. The gap is six points between us and Arsenal and we want to bridge that sooner rather than later.'

He added: 'We really need to win this game, especially with another international break coming up over the next fortnight, because that would give us a real lift.

'We only drew with Tottenham before the last international fortnight, and then we had two weeks to think about it.'

Boss Rafael Benitez expected to have Fernando Torres fully fit to be involved in the squad against Fulham, and he hopes that Liverpool can carry their form against Besiktas into Saturday's league clash at Anfield.

He said: 'We were really focused before the Besiktas game and the result was very satisfying for everyone.

'We had played well in a couple of previous home games when scored plenty of goals against Toulouse and then Derby, and this time we just kept on scoring.

'We had 30 goal attempts against Besiktas, so we saw different types of goals and different players scoring, it was very good for everyone's confidence.

'We have had a few games when we have not been able to convert some of our many chances, but now this has happened maybe it will set us off on the right road in terms of finishing our moves with goals.'

He added: 'We now have more confidence, and different players have been scoring goals. I hope that continues if we keep playing as well as that.

'I can only recall a youth team I coached once scoring 16, but in senior football I can recall six and seven, but never an eight, and in the Champions League that is not easy.

'I hope Torres will be OK for Saturday, he has trained this week and everything seems fine. Yes he will be available, but I could also continue with the same strikers. These are things I will consider over the next couple of days.'