Anfield will pay tribute to a true Liverpool legend when
Jamie Carragher brings the curtain down on his career this Sunday, writes John
Aldridge.
Carra will get the send-off he deserves and it promises to
be an emotional afternoon.
Brendan Rodgers' team talk before the game against Queens
Park Rangers should be short and sweet: 'We have to win the game for Carra'.
Every one of his team-mates should be desperate to ensure he
goes out on a higher rather than a whimper.
What Carra has done for Liverpool for the past 16 years is
difficult to sum up. Sunday will be his 737th appearance - putting him second
in the club's all-time appearance list behind the great Ian Callaghan.
In every one of those games he has given everything for the
shirt.
Carra epitomises everything that's best about Liverpool
Football Club.
At the former players association gala dinner at the Hilton
next Monday night he will receive a special award off us to mark his fantastic
achievements. It's fully deserved.
Carra has been a stalwart. A one-club man who has shown
remarkable consistency over so many years. It's a pity he didn't win the
Premier League title as that's the only major accolade to have eluded him but
he still boasts a medal collection to cherish.
Of course he lifted the big one - the European Cup - and
I'll always remember his great performances en-route to Istanbul in 2005
against the likes of Juventus and Chelsea.
Then who could forget the way he performed in the second and
in extra time in the final? He was so important in that amazing fightback
against Milan - fighting off cramp and putting his body on the line.
Any aspiring centre-back should get the DVD of that game and
study the way Carra played.
On the international stage, he never really got the
recognition he deserved in terms of England but I don't think that really
bothered him.
Club always came before country for Carra with Liverpool
meaning more to him than England.
He has always stayed close to his roots and that close bond
with the fans will be evident at Anfield on Sunday.
As fans we're selfish and I'm gutted he's calling it a day.
I want him to stick around and play another year as I believe he still has a
lot to offer.
But I fully understand why he's retiring. He wants to go out
on a high and he's got himself a great new job with Sky Sports.
He was an excellent pundit at the Euros last summer and I've
got no doubt he will do really well at Sky.
That will be his focus for the next few years but I'm sure
he will be back involved at the club one day.
I wouldn't write him off as a future Liverpool manager.
Hopefully that won't be for a long time as we want Rodgers to be successful.
But football is in Carra's blood. He lives the game 24/7 and he's the type I
want to see coaching and managing.
It's the end of an era on Sunday and Carra will leave some
huge boots to fill.
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