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By Chris Bascombe, 20/02/2010 JAMIE CARRAGHER has told Sport of the World that he's fed up with fans blaming Xabi Alonso's untimely exit to Real Madrid in the summer for Liverpool's failings this season. In a hard-hitting exclusive Big Interview in Sunday's Score pull-out, the popular defender speaks frankly about the Merseysiders' campaign and his own form and future. Carragher feels Alonso's absence is just one of a number of factors behind the Reds' disappointing campaign - but he does accept that Rafa Benitez needs to bring in two or three quality additions during the close season. "I've heard the arguments about what would have happened had we kept Xabi Alonso this season," he told Sport of the World. "Xabi is a good mate of mine and a great player. I was disappointed when he left. "He was here for five years and he great for us, but we didn't win the league during that time, did we? "There's no way you can say if he was here we'd win the league. There's more to it than that. "You can't keep looking back like that. I wish Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush were still in the team too so you might as well be arguing we'd win the league if we still had them." Carragher realises it's imperative that Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are kept away from Manchester City's clutches as he wants Benitez to strengthen the squad. "I'm sure there will be changes in the summer," he added. "And the main thing for us is keeping the top players here. "There are times you feel you're a long way off, but it may only need some top-class additions for us to get back up there. "I'd say we need two or three good buys and we wouldn't be as far away as many think. "We just need beefing up. I know next year we don't want to be fighting for fourth again." CARRAGHER: STOP BLAMING ALONSO SALE | News Of The World