Rafael Benitez claims Jamie Carragher is the best central defender in England.

The Liverpool manager has experienced some painful moments of late - notably when the Reds lost three matches in a week which threatened to derail his entire campaign.

But Benitez has seized on Carragher's excellent performance at the heart of England's defence in midweek for inspiration in his team's battle with Everton for a Champions League place.

He also sees new forward Fernando Morientes as one of the best strikers he has ever worked with.

Benitez - who predicts injured midfielder Xabi Alonso may be back in action for the last month of the campaign - is hoping for a third successive Barclays Premiership victory tomorrow, away to Birmingham.

"Jamie is playing very well and has been all season," said the manager.

"He is a very important player for us and I believe he is the best central defender in England at the moment.

"You will have to ask the England manager about his future in the team but as his club manager I believe he is a very good player with the strength and character every manager would want.

"He has all the right qualities you need for playing in central defence. He is improving all the time; he is learning tactical work and can play right across the back line at both full-back positions and both central defensive positions because he can use both feet equally as well."

At the other end of the field, Benitez is putting all his faith in Morientes who has scored in his last two matches.

"Morientes is one of the best strikers I have seen or worked with," he said.

"He has the right mentality, is good in the air and can use both feet; he has quality and can work for the team all the time."

A few weeks back, Benitez was not talking with such confidence but he has much more reason to smile now - more so at the prospect of a return for Alonso who broke his ankle on January 1 and was then ruled out for the rest of the season.

"He is a lot better now and he could be back for the last month," said Benitez.

"He has been away working and recovering in Spain but he is back with us now and I am pleased with his progress."

Djibril Cisse, out with a broken leg, is expected to start running in a month while Harry Kewell could play a reserve match next week as he battles back from an Achilles problem.

Benitez is therefore increasingly optimistic his team can bridge the five-point deficit they have conceded to Everton at this stage.

"If we want to reduce the gap we need to win matches and to just think about our games," the Liverpool boss said.

"We want to be in the top four, to win the Carling Cup, to progress in the Champions League but you cannot only think about the future, and what might happen. It is best to concentrate only on what is in front of you.

"All the players want the Champions League - and we know that if we do that we will win more money and be able to sign new players or say to the ones that we have 'stay here, because we will be playing big games in the future'."

Benitez knows, though, that Liverpool simply cannot afford to let any points slip away.

"Each week, if we win closing the gap is possible but we must win our match to make it happen," he said.

Benitez has had to contend with bad runs at times this season but has always retained faith that they will not last.

"In Spain we say 'After the storm there is always the sun' - and you must hold on to that," he said.

"I try to be happy all the time and I enjoy my job. I'm at a fantastic club with great fans - and even the weather is okay."

Even the perennial questions about club captain Steven Gerrard's future are not bothering Benitez too much at present.

"Steven is our player and will be our player for a lot of years," he predicted.