JAMIE Carragher has taunted title rival Sir Alex Ferguson by insisting Chelsea will reclaim the Premiership title this season - especially if Manchester United don't land Argentinian sensation Carlos Tevez.

The Liverpool defender believes Jose Mourinho's deposed champions are still the Premiership yardstick for success and they're more likely to be crowned Kings of England than Ferguson's stars - despite a ??pounds;52 million ($156m) summer spend by United.

And Carragher is convinced it'll be the defensive might of Chelsea skipper John Terry and goalkeeper Petr Cech that'll triumph over the flashing blades of Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in the battle for domestic supremacy with just 13 days to go before the big kick-off.

Says Carragher: 'United are the champions - but I still think the team who finish above Chelsea will win it. I think Chelsea are really the ones you have to see as the yardstick.

'With Cech being back at his peak, there is no better goalkeeper. And John Terry in front of him is going to give Chelsea a real chance again.

'United are a great side and will be there having strengthened again but I do feel Chelsea are really the team to beat if you want to win the league.

BIG DIFFERENCE

'Obviously Tevez could make a big difference to United because he's a great player who has already proved that in the Premiership by keeping West Ham up almost on his own, but hopefully they won't get him.'

Carragher was speaking as Liverpool prepared to leave Hong Kong having lost the final of the Barclay's Asia Trophy after a penalty shoot-out with Portsmouth.

Their failure to score, despite a missed penalty and other chances for ??pounds;21 million-new boy Fernando Torres, was a worrying indicator that Liverpool's 17-year wait for a League championship is not about to end in a hurry even though boss Rafa Benitez has bought three new strikers this summer.

And the burden of trying to smash that title jinx has left Carragher in a race against time to become a Premiership winner before his time's up at Anfield.

'Of course it's a millstone around your neck and something I am desperate to put right. Manchester United overtook us at the right time with the Premiership starting back in 1992 and all that money involved.

'Then it got even more difficult for us with Chelsea coming up and we haven't really been able to get back to the top. But that's not really an excuse, we should have still done better, of course.

'We have done well in the last seven or eight years winning a lot of trophies but the Premiership is the one we haven't got hold of. It is something we are desperate for, and me more than most because of my age.

'I am 29 now and won't have long left. The next three or four years will fly by so I definitely want to get my hands on it.

'You hope the new signings will solve the goal problem we've had but until the season starts, you never know.

'But I can't really complain about it - I'm not the best goal-scorer myself!

'The manager has created a solid team over the past two or three years and the next step is to take it that little bit further and maybe score the goals that Manchester United and Chelsea do. We have spent a few quid in the summer to try and do that. Hopefully it will happen.

'It's obvious there's been a shortage of goals and that's why the manager has spent money there.

'If it had been the other way round and we were scoring a lot of goals but were conceding a lot, the manager would have bought defenders.

CONFIDENCE

'It's there to see. We have great confidence in the players he has brought in, they have looked very good in training. But you never know until the real stuff kicks off.'

With new American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett pumping in money for new players and a stunning new stadium since their ??pounds;450m takeover earlier this year, Carragher knows it's time to deliver - or else.

'There is pressure on everyone now and the manager has already mentioned that,' he said.

'Credit to the new owners, they have spent the money they promised and to us, all that does is provide more competition for the players who are here. Not just now but hopefully in the future as well. Nobody can rest on their laurels.

'There are a lot of players now. I've never known a squad as strong really.

'Every position has two international players and it's going to be a tough decision for the manager in our first game away at Aston Villa.

'When it comes down to things like that though, you have to look after yourself and make sure you are in the team.

'The manager has shown he's prepared to be ruthless and sell people if necessary as he's done with Luis Garcia and Craig Bellamy.

'Luis did superbly for Liverpool and I sent him a message when he went, saying I was sad to see him go. But the manager felt the time was right.

'Obviously, we have a top manager and being ruthless is part of being a top manager.

'He has shown that, he got on great with Luis but he felt the time was right. That is what you have to do at this level and that is why he is managing at this level.'