Jamie Carragher: Liverpool need a new defensive midfielder to deal with loss of Steven Gerrard

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has hailed the summer overhaul conducted by Brendan Rodgers during the transfer window but feels his old side are yet to sign a defensive midfielder to fill the hole left by Steven Gerrard.

Following a disappointing campaign that saw the Anfield side miss the Champions League qualifying spots, the former Swansea gaffer has broke the bank to secure the services of James Milner, Danny Ings, Joe Gomez, Adam Bogdan, Roberto Firmino, Nathaniel Clyne and Christian Benteke.

After last summer's arriving duo of Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert failed to fill in the void left by the departure of Luis Suarez, Rodgers has focused on adding goals to his attack, while Milner has been tipped to bring experience to the side after the departure of the former captain to the MLS.

But Carragher has warned that even though the revolution in playing staff makes sense, the squad misses a proper holding midfielder.

"I would have liked to have seen them sign a defensive midfield player, with Steven Gerrard having moved on," the former defender wrote in his Sky Sports column.

"Emre Can can maybe step in there and you still have Lucas Leiva, but it looks like a position that Liverpool need to fill, and it is one that I am slightly surprised they haven't given their defensive record over the last few years."

Carragher also hailed the arrival of Milner on a free transfer, believing his experience at Manchester City will help Liverpool reach their goals in the new campaign.

" think every signing you can understand, whereas last summer there were certain signings that you could not quite understand why they were made. But I think that this summer getting James Milner in, with Premier League experience, he has been there and done it with Manchester City and so is a good signing," he said.

Carragher also praised Ings and Benteke's signings as a significant step up for the club's options, while adding that Gomez and Clyne have a big role to play at Anfield after the departure of full-backs Glen Johnson and Javier Manquillo.

"I think Danny Ings coming in will be an improvement on the backup strikers Liverpool had last season, especially in terms of Mario Balotelli and Fabio Borini – he will offer more than either of them. I think Christian Benteke was someone who Liverpool needed, a physical presence at the top end of the pitch, with pace and power, Premier League experience and a great goals record," he added.

"Obviously it is yet to be seen how he will fit in over the coming months and how he will be affected by Liverpool's style of play being slightly different to Aston Villa's.

"The full-backs who have come in, the young left-back from Charlton Joe Gomez and Nathaniel Clyne, are two young English players, which is good. "