Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has defended manager Rafael Benitez after the Reds lost out to Newcastle in their attempt to re-sign Michael Owen.
The European champions baulked at Real Madrid's £17m asking price for Owen.
"I'm not sure if there will be a bit of criticism because we haven't signed him but we've spent a lot of money on strikers," said Carragher.
Liverpool also failed to bring in Benfica winger Simao Sabrosa before the transfer window closed on Wednesday.
The move for the 25-year-old broke down after the two clubs failed to agree a deal.
Benitez's hopes of signing a central defender were also frustrated.
Carragher tipped Owen to make a "huge impact" at Newcastle, and said he was surprised the striker had not been able to hold down a regular place at Real Madrid.
"You don't want to criticise a club like Real Madrid, but it's unbelievable not to play him when you look at his goal ratio," said Carragher.
"I'm sure you won't see Robinho or (Julio) Baptista doing more than he did in the time that he had. Maybe it's because he doesn't do backheels or flick the ball over people's heads.
"But the most important thing in the team is putting the ball in the back of the net and Newcastle have got one of the best around at doing that.
"He's a great fighter and I'm sure he'll show that at Newcastle. With him and Shearer together, it's going to be tough playing at St James' Park with the crowd behind them."
Liverpool's failure to secure Owen, combined with the departure of Milan Baros to Aston Villa, leaves Benitez with just three main strikers to choose from - Djibril Cisse, Fernando Morientes and Peter Crouch.
But Carragher said: "We've got to have respect for the players at our club and hopefully they can do the damage for us. We've got a lot of good strikers."
-- ------------------------------------------------------- --------------------THIS WEEKS CD PLAY----------------- ------------------------------------------------------- ------------- HED KANDI BACK TO LOVE 03.05 ---------- -------------------------------------------------------
