Carragher hails Liverpool signings

Defender Jamie Carragher has hailed Liverpool's transfer policy under manager Kenny Dalglish.

The signing of Stewart Downing will take Dalglish's spending to £100m since returning for a second spell as Liverpool boss.The Reds' strikeforce was boosted by the signing of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez in January, and Downing is their third midfield recruit this summer after the arrival of Jordan Henderson and Charlie Adam.Carragher feels the club's new board is putting together a squad which has the same strength in depth as when he first broke into the first-team.And the veteran defender believes the £20m capture of winger Downing from Aston Villa will add a new dimension to the Liverpool side."It's a terrific signing, there's no doubt about that whatsoever," Carragher said on the team's pre-season tour of Asia."He's been a top player in the Premier League for the last six or seven years and he will make a difference, with his ability to go outside and down the line to get quality crosses in."He was Aston Villa's player of the year and he will give us something that we have been lacking, genuine quality on the left-hand side."Every team looking to compete needs quality players in each position and that is what we are getting back towards."Downing has earned 27 England caps since coming through the Middlesbrough academy and Carragher is confident the 26-year-old will soon settle in at Anfield."I know him, so does Stevie (Gerrard)," he said. "He knows Andy Carroll and Johnno (Glen Johnson) from playing for England, so he is not going to be walking into a dressing room and be on his own."He will get a great welcome because he's a good lad and a top player as well."Dutch forward Dirk Kuyt is also confident Liverpool are moving in the right direction and is looking forward to the new season with more anticipation than perhaps any other since signing from Feyenoord in 2006."When I arrived at Liverpool, five or six years ago, we seemed to have two very good players for almost every position," he said."I have just got a feeling we are getting back there. There is more rivalry, more competition but it gets the best out of you."The start of pre-season last year was very strange for all of us. We didn't know where the club was going with the owners but since they [Tom Hicks and George Gillett] have gone, there has been a lot of change. A change of manager and a couple of good signings like Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll."It all looks very positive. It is what I want and what the players want. We have to challenge with the best and it looks like we are getting there."