Rafa Benitez put on the spot by Jamie Carragher over 'decision that cost Liverpool'

Jamie Carragher has put Rafa Benitez in the hot seat regarding Xabi Alonso's departure from Liverpool to Real Madrid. Carragher grilled the ex-Reds manager, who led the team to Champions League glory in 2005, about Alonso's exit and why Liverpool couldn't compete with rivals like Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal during his time in charge.

Benitez nearly clinched the Premier League title for Liverpool in the 2008/09 season, finishing just four points behind Manchester United. Alonso was a key figure in Liverpool's midfield during what would be his final season before his £30million move to Real Madrid, amidst rumours of a fallout with Benitez.

On the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, sponsored by Sky Bet, Carragher probed into the reasons behind Benitez's inability to resolve issues with Alonso, which he believes could have helped Liverpool capitalise on their strong performance in 2009.

Carragher expressed his annoyance, saying (via the Mirror): "My frustration is because maybe you had a disagreement at the start of the season, I think if something's a little bit fractious [between] a manager and a player but then the season starts and this player is playing really well and the team is playing really well, haven't you won?

"This player is playing really well and obviously he goes next summer, could that not have been fixed as the season goes on in terms of a contract or something else because we had something there?"

Responding to the query, Benitez admitted Alonso had his sights set on leaving Anfield, with plans already in motion for a switch to Arsenal a year before he actually left. "Xabi Alonso is a very good player, a very clever person, and someone that is right," the Spaniard stated.

"When we went for Gareth Barry, it was because he could play in three different positions and then we needed to sell. Xabi had an agreement; he was talking with one club and had an agreement.

"The year after, we played Standard de Liege for a Champions League qualifier and we had Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva in the Olympic Games, Steven Gerrard had a lower back problem, so we had to play [Damien] Plessis and Xabi.

"Xabi had an agreement with Arsenal and didn't want to get cup-tied. I told Jamie Carragher and Gerrard before the game that he had an agreement and doesn't want to play, but he must because it is the most important game to qualify for the Champions League.

"Then when you were going out for the warm-ups, you said, 'Poor Xabi.' Not poor Xabi, he is playing for our club at this time. During the season he was our best player and didn't go to Arsenal because he had to play [for us].

"We played against Lazio in our last pre-season friendly and the fans were clapping for Xabi, but he was going to Arsenal, the fans loved him." Following Alonso's departure, Javier Mascherano and Fernando Torres also left the club, with Benitez's contract being terminated at the end of the 2009/10 season.

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