LIVERPOOL - Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes his side can recover from their spluttering start to the season as long as they stick together.

The Reds are in danger of being cast adrift in the Premier League title race after Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sunderland left them seven points behind leaders Manchester United.

Losing to a bizarre goal from Darren Bent that deflected past goalkeeper Jose Reina off a beach ball thrown onto the pitch by a Liverpool fan added insult to injury for a club spiralling into crisis.

Rafa Benitez's side have already lost four times in the league this season - twice as many defeats as they suffered last term - and head into a crucial week with morale at a low ebb after three successive defeats in all competitions.

Liverpool face French side Lyon in the Champions League at Anfield on Tuesday before arch rivals United make the trip to Merseyside on Sunday.

Defeat in those two fixtures would leave Liverpool, who last won the title 19 years ago, in a desperate state but Carragher is confident they can bounce back as long as the players keep calm.

"It was frustrating for us (to lose) but Chelsea also lost so there is still a long way to go," Carragher said.

"Now is not the time to talk about the title. We are looking to the next game.

"We now have the Champions League tie against Lyon which will be in front of our own supporters at Anfield to restore some confidence before we take on Manchester United next Sunday.

"We will stick together and work hard on the training ground to put things right. We know we've got a good team, good players and a good manager so we've got to have belief in ourselves and keep going.

"We have the quality and the belief we will get back to winning ways soon, hopefully starting on Tuesday against Lyon."

Carragher also refused to blame the absence of star duo Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres for the insipid display at Sunderland.

"It's easy to say we missed Stevie and Fernando and yes they are world-class players, but we have a big squad and we have won without them before," he added.