Reds open to Carragher return

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner has said there will always be a job for Jamie Carragher at the club as the defender prepares to play his final game before retiring this weekend.

The 35-year-old will make his 737th Reds appearance against QPR on Sunday before moving into television punditry with Sky Sports next season.



However, Werner said the club would welcome back former England international Carragher, who has spent his entire playing career at Anfield, with open arms.

"We wish Jamie well in his new career and the door will always be open for him at Liverpool," he told the Liverpool Echo.



"I really hope we see him back at the club one day because with all that experience and knowledge we know he has so much to offer.



"Whether it's as a coach, an analyst or whatever, there will always be a job for him here.



"We hoped he would play on for another season but we fully respect his decision to retire.



"He wants to leave the party before the last call and I understand that.



"I have nothing but admiration for him - both on and off the field.



"It's a big challenge to try to replace him. He's a unique individual and I think finding another player just like him will be impossible."

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Carragher backs Suarez

Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool are doing the right thing in backing Luis Suarez and the defender claims he would rather be bitten than suffer a broken leg.



Suarez is on Wednesday set to find out the length of the ban he will receive from the Football Association for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic at the weekend.

The Uruguayan pleaded guilty to violent conduct and could be facing a lengthy suspension but Liverpool have stood by their man and ignored some calls to show him the Anfield exit.

And Carragher cited examples - including himself, Graeme Souness, Robbie Fowler and Jan Molby - of players who Liverpool had backed to their benefit following misdemeanours.

"The way things are now being pitched is that Liverpool have got to do something about the rotten apple in their midst," he said in the Daily Mail.

"It is as if Luis is the only player to have represented Liverpool who has ever been embroiled in controversy. That simply isn't the case."

He added: "Every one of the players I mention regretted what happened and Luis is the same. More importantly, the club stood by every one of them."

Carragher also attempted to put the incident into perspective, saying it was not as bad as leg-breaking tackle.

"The bite was shocking, no question, and everyone who has seen it was amazed," he said. "Yet was it worse than a challenge that could end someone's career?

"I know what it is like to have your leg broken by a reckless tackle. Lucas Neill cost me six months of my career in September 2003 when he played for Blackburn. Would I have preferred to have been bitten? Absolutely.

"I suspect that Branislav Ivanovic, who has conducted himself with great credit in the aftermath, would agree."


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Rodgers Hoping To Convince Carragher To Play On

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he is hoping to convince defender Jamie Carragher not to retire at the end of the season.



Carragher announced in February that he would bring the curtain down on his playing career at the end of the season after making over 700 appearances for the club.



Brendan Rodgers, who appeared on Sky Sport's football show Goals on Sunday, said he intends to holds talks with the player in the summer.



He said, ""He's been fantastic and I do [believe he could play next season]. Him and I communicate a lot and he's obviously got something in his mind.



"Him and I will sit down between now and the end of the season anyway and we'll see where it goes.



"If he does go, I will certainly miss him because he's been brilliant for me in my time there, going in as a manager of a club of that size.



"He's shown great respect and really helped me and the other guys.



"The thing for now is to keep performing the way he is until the end of the season and between then and now him and I will chat and we'll take it from there."

Rodgers plans Carragher talks

Brendan Rodgers told Goals on Sunday that he plans to hold talks with Jamie Carragher over his future before the end of the season.

The Liverpool defender has announced plans to retire from football this summer and has been linked with a job in the media, but his manager believes he could continue playing for the club next year.

Carragher has made 33 appearances for Liverpool this season and has played the full 90 minutes in all but one of their last 11 Premier League fixtures.

Rodgers plans to use him in the first team for the rest of the season and says he will discuss the possibility of retaining his services at Anfield before his contract expires.

He told Goals on Sunday: "He's been fantastic and I do [believe he could play next season]. Him and I communicate a lot and he's obviously got something in his mind.

"Him and I will sit down between now and the end of the season anyway and we'll see where it goes.

"If he does go, I will certainly miss him because he's been brilliant for me in my time there, going in as a manager of a club of that size.

"He's shown great respect and really helped me and the other guys. The thing for now is to keep performing the way he is until the end of the season and between then and now him and I will chat and we'll take it from there."

Carragher considered quitting Anfield last summer and Rodgers said one of his first tasks after taking the Liverpool job was to convince him to stay.

And while he wasn't initially planning to use him as a regular starter, he says the 35-year-old consistently impressed in training and soon forced his way into the team.

Rodgers added: "It's an interesting one with Carra because this guy's incredible. I want to put that on record.

"I saw him from the outside when I was at Chelsea and the games he was playing in the Champions League. I always thought he was one of the best defenders in European football at that stage.

"To come in and work with him at close hand and see his will and determination. His play speaks for itself, but the fight and spirit and quality that he shows every single day in training is amazing.

"I had a good conversation with Carra last summer because he was maybe thinking about moving on to pastures new last year, but we talked and decided that he would stay.

"For me, he's hardly put a foot wrong. I obviously wanted to go with a pairing of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger as maybe the future at the beginning of the season and those guys have done really well.



"But I felt that with Carra and all the games he's played - the cup games and any time he's come in in the league - he's been remarkable and I felt I wanted to put him in the team."

Rodgers eyes 'new Carragher'

Brendan Rodgers admits Liverpool may have no other option than to buy in the necessary character to replace retiring defender Jamie Carragher.

Jaime reacted after Liverpool win a penalty versus Spurs.

The Reds boss has regularly praised the leadership qualities of his 35-year-old vice-captain, who will bring his 16-year professional career to an end in May.



Carragher had been a peripheral figure for the first half of the season but Rodgers brought him back into the starting line-up in January as he felt the side required more steel.



Since then the veteran centre-back has been a virtual ever-present, although his absence through injury for defeat at Southampton a fortnight ago gave Rodgers more food for thought on a suitable replacement.



"We missed his leadership qualities at Southampton and he will come back into the squad for the weekend," said Rodgers of Carragher's likely return to face Aston Villa on Sunday.



"He is a real role model for all the players - the young and the senior ones - but he has eight games left, let's not write him off yet."



Carragher will leave a considerable gap when he quits but even with Denmark captain Daniel Agger, Slovakia international Martin Skrtel and Uruguay centre-back Sebastian Coates at his disposal Rodgers admits he may have to look elsewhere.



"It is something we will have a look at but there is no doubt he will be a miss," said the Reds boss, who has been heavily linked with a move for Wales captain Ashley Williams of his former club Swansea as well as Feyenoord's Stefan de Vrij.



"I will miss him because he is a good man, a lover of football and he puts everything into training every day.



"We are going to be light in that area so between now and the end of the season we have to assess it as that is the one area of the field where we haven't brought anyone in.



"Naturally we are going to lose Jamie. There is no player who is ever irreplaceable but he is a big loss because you can see his experience and how he leads the line.



"You need someone in there who is vocal and organises the line and he does that remarkably well.



"I also have really good players here - Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel - and between now and the end of the season we know we need to strengthen the group and that is what we will look to do.



"If it is not something we have in the group then we may need that type of character in there who can organise and lead."