Tuesday 29 September 2015 11:41, UK
Jamie Carragher says Danny Ings has made a "massive difference" to Liverpool and thinks the partnership with Daniel Sturridge has already shown promising signs.
With Christian Benteke out injured, Ings and Sturridge started together for the first time against Aston Villa in the Premier League on Saturday.
It proved to be a winning combination as Sturridge scored twice to secure a 3-2 victory and boost Liverpool's confidence ahead of the Merseyside derby at Everton on Super Sunday.
"Sturridge's finishing deserves the accolades but a lot of it comes from Ings," said former Liverpool defender Carragher on Monday Night Football.
"He has made a massive difference. He is pressing people, running behind, making the game quicker, and that's where the chances are coming from.
"The way Ings is playing, you think when Benteke comes back, it will be difficult for Brendan Rodgers to get him in the team."
The game against Villa was only Sturridge's second start of the season after returning from an injury that had kept him out since April.
Carragher thinks if the England international can stay fit, then he is one of the top strikers in the Premier League.
"He has the coolness in front of goal and if Liverpool can get him fully fit and firing, it's only really [Sergio] Aguero who is a better striker than him in the league," he said.
"In the first half against Villa, he looked like a player coming back to fitness but he came alive in the second half. He is the icing on the cake and can provide that class finish.
"The rest of his game doesn't involve too much but he makes a massive difference at that end of the pitch for Liverpool.
"There were great signs with the partnership with Ings."
Watch Everton v Liverpool live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 12.30pm on Super Sunday.
