F365 – Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers pays tribute to the retiring Jamie Carragher

Brendan Rodgers admitted Jamie Carragher could easily play on after ending his career with victory over QPR.

A news article on 2013-05-19 18:32:00 from: Football 365

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GUARDIAN – Liverpool 1-0 QPR | Premier League match report

Liverpool gave a rousing send-off to Jamie Carragher after 16 outstanding years and 737 games as the bed-rock of their defence but the width of a post denied him the perfect one as football again refused to follow the script. Carragher struck the woodwork on his farewell performance with a thunderous drive from 25 yards, yes really, to leave Anfield briefly in despair. One last clean sheet was far more appropriate.

Carragher’s 62nd-minute shot apart, the script was followed to perfection as Anfield said farewell to one of its greatest servants. Steven Gerrard, wearing a suit and a sling following a recent shoulder operation, led a guard of honour for the 35-year-old before kick off with Luis Suarez alongside him. Queens Park Rangers also lined up in tribute before falling to defeat courtesy of Philippe Coutinho’s stunning first half finish.

The Kop held aloft a mosaic that read ‘JC 23′ and then Carragher emerged with his children, James and Mia, to a chorus of Anfield dreaming of a team of Carraghers. He looked suitably nonplussed, embarrassed even, once he reached the centre circle and immediately signalled for his team-mates to join him for the warm-up. Carragher had said it was more important to collect three points and a clean sheet than receive personal accolades and he was not disappointed as Brendan Rodgers’s team bowed out victorious.

Liverpool were in a different league to their relegated opponents before the Premier League campaign had been brought to a close. An energetic, enterprising display was typical of many against the weaker sides in the division but, having failed to mount a serious challenge in any competition, even Rodgers conceded his debut season as manager was one of “disappointment and delight”.

“I have a long way to go to gain your trust fully,” wrote the Liverpool manager in his programme notes. “We must work tirelessly to bridge the gap that has been created over time. We don’t like it, but I can promise you that the work taking place on and off the field will bear fruit. The progress this season may not have come as fast as many would’ve liked but I’d rather build the base first to ensure we have sustainable success in the future.”

Rodgers cited the emergence of young talent as one major positive for Liverpool and backed that conviction by giving another teenager his first-team debut. Having relied on Raheem Sterling in left midfield throughout the first half of the season, the Liverpool manager suitably signed off with a full debut for Jordon Ibe.

The stocky 17-year-old from Bermondsey, signed from Wycombe Wanderers 18 months ago, thrived in the space granted by Rangers and had justified his inclusion prior to creating the opening goal for Coutinho. Controlling an awkward cross-field pass from Stewart Downing on his chest, Ibe cut inside Michael Harriman and Stéphane Mbia and showed the presence of mind to assist a better-placed colleague rather than take a hopeful shot. Coutinho, far and away the best of Rodgers’s signings as Liverpool manager, swept a perfect finish into Rob Green’s bottom right-hand corner from 25 yards.

That should have been the second of the game for Liverpool and their destructive Brazilian. Coutinho had somehow been left unmarked when Stewart Downing swung over a second-minute corner and steered a diving header beyond Green at the back post. Harriman hooked the header clear but Liverpool players immediately claimed the ball had crossed the line. Replays suggested they were correct.


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A news article on 2013-05-19 17:12:00 from: The Guardian

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GUARDIAN – Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers: squad sheets

Try telling Jamie Carragher that nothing is riding on this fixture. After 16 years and 737 appearances for Liverpool, a total bettered only by Ian Callaghan, the Bootle-born defender brings his outstanding career to a close against Harry Redknapp’s relegated side. Anfield will pay homage and then worry about a defence without its dominant leader next season. Carragher will probably still be throwing his body on the line in stoppage time. The absence of Steven Gerrard, Luis Suárez and Daniel Agger did not disrupt Liverpool or Daniel Sturridge’s fine form at Fulham last weekend and, for QPR, Loïc Rémy is available. Andy Hunter

Venue Anfield, Sunday 4pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Liverpool 1 QPR 0

Referee Martin Atkinson

This season’s matches 23 Y86, R1, 3.78 cards per game

Odds Liverpool 1-4 QPR 12-1 Draw 11-2

Liverpool

Subs from Gulacsi, Jones, Assaidi, Borini, Suso, Coady, Yesil, Skrtel, Wisdom, Ibe, Morgan, Jones, Ward, McLaughlin

Doubtful Skrtel (illness)

Injured Agger (back, Aug), Allen (shoulder, Aug), Flanagan (knee, Aug), Gerrard (shoulder, Aug), Kelly (knee, Aug), Sterling, (thigh, Aug)

Suspended Suárez (fourth of 10)

Form guide WDWDDD

Disciplinary record Y53 R2

Leading scorer Suárez 23

Queens Park Rangers

Subs from Cerny, Green, Diakité, Park, Taarabt, Mackie, Yun, Granero, Onuoha, Da Silva, Townsend, Bothroyd, Magri

Doubtful Júlio César (back), Samba (hamstring), Taarabt (personal reasons)

Injured Campbell (metatarsal, Aug), Johnson (knee, Aug), Wright-Phillips (ankle, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide LLDLLD

Disciplinary record Y57 R3

Leading scorer Rémy 6

Match pointers

• Liverpool have scored in all 11 of their previous Premier League meetings with QPR

• If QPR do not win, they will be the first side to end a season with four Premier League victories

• Liverpool have kept 10 clean sheets in their past 15 league games at home

• QPR have scored just once in their past 455 minutes of top-flight football – a Loïc Rémy penalty against Newcastle

• Since Luis Suárez made his debut in February 2011, Liverpool have won a lower proportion of games with him (39%) than without him (59%)


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A news article on 2013-05-17 15:39:00 from: The Guardian

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ESPN – Ferguson heaps praise on Carragher

Sir Alex Ferguson has paid a glowing tribute to Jamie Carragher on Liverpool’s official website, with the Manchester United manager declaring that he “loved” the Liverpool defender.

A news article on 2013-05-16 11:26:00 from: ESPN

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GUARDIAN – Brendan Rodgers says consistency is key to Liverpool top-four ambition

• Manager leads side to one place higher than under Dalglish
• ‘This year has provided a great learning curve for me’

Brendan Rodgers has described his debut season as Liverpool manager as a necessary learning curve that can produce a top-four challenge next term providing the team’s consistency and mentality improves.

The Liverpool manager has delivered a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League, one place higher than Kenny Dalglish achieved last year albeit without winning the League Cup and having spent almost £50m on new players. The first half of the campaign suffered from the calamitous end to last summer’s transfer window, when Liverpool’s new recruitment team were on gardening leaving following their departures from Manchester City, and Rodgers insists lessons have been learned throughout his debut season.

“This year has provided a great learning curve for me and I look back and see that it was learning that I needed,” he said. “I knew the expectancy of the club but, going into next season, I am a much better prepared manager for that. We want to make significant improvements next year in the points total because the reality is we are 30 points behind the leaders and 11 points behind the top four.

“But I’ve seen enough and if we improve our mentality in the summer – by signing players who have that consistent winning mentality – we can then improve again, like we have done in the second half of the season. That’s the job of the recruitment team and the club to identify those types of players. They might not always be the best players but what we need in the second year of this project is to find a great level of consistency.”

Liverpool are five points behind Everton in sixth ahead of their final game of the season at home to Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, when Jamie Carragher will make his final appearance for the club, but Rodgers insists “small steps” forward have been taken.

The Liverpool manager added: “There is a process of getting into the top four and becoming champions and that is consistency. This club didn’t win two league games in a row for over a year. That came earlier on in the season and when you step back and look at that, it is nowhere near good enough if you are going to succeed.

“You build a mentality in your group and you get the types of players who can be on it every single game. I’ve loved every minute of being here and the small steps of where we want to go. But now I want to make bigger steps.”


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A news article on 2013-05-14 13:59:00 from: The Guardian

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ECHO – Liverpool FC News: The Luis Suarez Story: James Pearce on why you can’t put a value on the Uruguyan maestro’s worth to LFC

LUIS SUAREZ truly is a rare breed. A footballer who specialises in awe-inspiring individual brilliance yet is also the ultimate team man.

A news article on 2013-03-21 07:00:00 from: Liverpool Echo

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GOAL – Extra Time: Lana Del Rey Born to Die for Liverpool after Anfield visit

The singer, who topped the charts in 11 countries last year with her debut album, witnessed the Reds claiming a vital win over Tottenham to keep their top-four hopes alives

A news article on 2013-03-10 22:30:00 from: Goal

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GOAL – TEAM NEWS: Sturridge fails to recover from hamstring injury but Coutinho makes the bench for Liverpool against West Brom

The England international has had his impressive start to his Anfield career halted by injury, however the Reds will be hoping to keep up their home form despite his abscence

A news article on 2013-02-11 19:08:00 from: Goal

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ECHO – Liverpool FC News: Liverpool FC skipper Steven Gerrard: I tried to convince Jamie Carragher to keep playing

LIVERPOOL skipper Steven Gerrard has revealed how he had to admit defeat in his bid to convince Jamie Carragher to keep playing for another 12 months.

A news article on 2013-02-10 14:44:00 from: Liverpool Echo

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GUARDIAN – Martin Kelly signs new long-term deal at Liverpool

• Defender signs new contract at club
• ‘It means everything to me,’ says 22-year-old

Martin Kelly has signed a new long-term contract with Liverpool, the club have confirmed.

Brendan Rodgers revealed at a press conference on Friday that he was expecting the 22-year-old defender to sign a new contract soon.

And Kelly, currently out with a cruciate knee ligament injury, has now put pen to paper on a new deal at Anfield.

The day after his fellow defender Jamie Carragher announced his retirement at the end of the season, Rodgers was pleased to see another local lad commit his future to the club.

Rodgers said: “Martin has shown a commitment to our vision here. He is a young player who really impressed me when I came in. He was exceptionally good in the games he played earlier in the season.”

The player, who injured his knee in the 2-1 home defeat against Manchester United in September, said: “I’m delighted to sign. It means everything to me and my family. I’ve been at Liverpool since I was seven, so it’s in my heart and I love the club.

“When you play in the Liverpool shirt, you have to show the fans what it means. I just love playing and trying my hardest for the supporters and for my family.”

Kelly, who has made 54 appearances for Liverpool since making his debut in 2009, added: “Being a Liverpool supporter myself, it’s brilliant to put the shirt on. I’m doing what I have loved doing since I was a kid. I’m over the moon.

“Today shows the faith that the club have in me and that the hard work I have put in since I was young has paid off. Hopefully I’ll put the injuries behind me. We have excellent medical staff here, who are going to work me and keep me on top of my injury. I’ll be coming back even stronger.”

The Liverpool managing director, Ian Ayre, added: “It’s fantastic news and it runs on from various other players who have committed to us.

“I think everybody has been starting to see and enjoy Martin’s potential and the work he has showed to get into the first team and these are the things we are looking for.

“He was very unfortunate to get his injury but he has worked very hard with the physios and the medical team and hopefully we’ll see him back soon. Signing him up for the long term is very important for us.”


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A news article on 2013-02-08 16:20:00 from: The Guardian

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