The Reds have mounted a surprise title challenge this season but the former defender fears it could prove a false dawn if it is not followed by significant investment

Jamie Carragher has urged Liverpool’s owners to hand Brendan Rodgers the funds to turn the club into regular title challengers this summer.

The Anfield legend paid tribute to the progress being made under Rodgers as Liverpool sit two points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City heading into the final weekend of the season.

City are overwhelming favourites to be crowned champions thanks to their superior goal difference, but Carragher hopes the vast improvement in league form at Liverpool is a “springboard for future success rather than the summit of ambitions”.

“Liverpool have had an outstanding season and for long periods were the best team in the land,” wrote Carragher in his weekly Daily Mail column.

“And who knows, if Manchester City suffer an unexpected slip, they could yet be crowned champions.

“The likelihood, however, is that there will be no trophy, as was the case in 2002 and 2009 when the club last mounted a challenge for the Premier League title.

“In the two campaigns in which I came closest to the title, we needed two or three quality signings to make the next step, but the subsequent transfer windows were filled with poor signings as Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez and their scouts made mistakes that prevented us from pushing on.

“Liverpool don’t need a summer where they buy players to fit in around the edges.

“They need quality additions. They need three players to go straight into the team — two defenders and a midfielder — then another striker and a wide player to add depth and quality.

“We hear a lot about the transfer committee who work behind the scenes at Anfield but however the system operates, the owners need to back Rodgers financially and trust his judgment to bring in the quality that will prevent a repeat of what happened after 2002 and 2009.”