Jamie Carragher Gone, or Just a Form Blip?

Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher is an honest type, but has the no nonsense defender’s time in the top flight finally come to an end or is his loss of form just a blip?

Carragher has been criticised this season following some uncharacteristically poor performances as Liverpool have shipped in 12 goals in eight Premier League games.

And the club’s 2-0 reverse at Chelsea last weekend – a game which Carragher was once again off the pace - was Liverpool’s third defeat in the league.

The 31-year-old centre-back is well aware of his poor start to the season and although being undone by Didier Drogba and co is no embarrassment, Carragher’s other early season performances have raised questions about his ability at the top level.

The defender has been a model of consistency in his 12 years at Anfield and although he has never been noted for his pace, his displays this season have found him exposed at the heart of the Liverpool back four.

There are obviously other contributing factors to Carragher’s and Liverpool’s poor form such as Xabi Alonso and Sami Hyypia’s departures and Javier Mascherano’s lacklustre displays, but the one-club man is certainly finding things tougher than ever.

"We aren't playing well as a back four and I'm not playing well personally," Carragher told the club's official website. "I need to hit better form and hopefully that will come in the next few games.

"Over the last five or six years we have been renowned as a team who have kept a lot of clean sheets and for keeping it tight. I think that's why we get a bit more criticism because people don't expect it of Liverpool - and rightly so.

"We take the plaudits when things are going well so you have to take the criticism when it's not going well.

"I know I need to improve myself and we also need to improve as a team."

Carragher is sure to point to his woeful form as just a blip, but I’m not so sure and how long will Rafa Benitez persist with the former England man if the Reds continue to concede goals and let their odds of winning the Premier League slip further.