Back Benitez with cash - Carragher

Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool's warring owners to call a truce and hand Rafael Benitez the money to challenge Manchester United and Chelsea.

The Reds' season has been overshadowed by the boardroom battle between American co-owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett and Carragher believes that has had a detrimental effect on the season.

He said: "The best clubs are always the ones you don't hear much from behind the scenes. That was always how Liverpool were run and that's what we want to get back to."

Despite reaching the semi-final of the Champions League for the third time in four seasons, Liverpool's long wait for the Barclays Premier League title goes on after their challenge faltered this term.

Carragher believes manager Benitez must be given the same spending power as his counterparts at Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge if that is to change next season.

He said: "United won the title last year and spent £50million. If Chelsea don't win the league this time then they will probably go out and spend £100million.

"We've done okay in Europe since Rafa came, but it's not as if we are going to get to the Champions League final every year, so the important thing now is to improve domestically.

"That's hard when Chelsea have got someone like (owner) Roman Abramovich, but what we've got to do at Liverpool is get things sorted out about the ownership issue so that plans can be put in place."

There have been fears Benitez could walk away if off-field matters do not improve.

But Carragher said: "I am sure Rafa will stay. In fact, I'm 100% certain."