Jamie Carragher will mark 14 years at Liverpool with a testimonial match against local rivals Everton at Anfield on September 4.
The game has been scheduled to take place during the international break with a host of the veteran defender's former team mates already confirmed to take part, including Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Dietmar Hamann, Jamie Redknapp and Michael Owen.
Carragher is hopeful that fellow Champions League winners Sami Hyypia and Jerzy Dudek will feature whilst David Moyes has pledged to field his strongest possible XI for the clash, with all proceeds from the game going to the '23 Foundation'.
"It has been in the pipeline for four or five months and I've had to keep things quiet but I'm delighted now that I can start to talk about it properly," said Carragher.
"Hopefully it should be a great occasion, one that the Merseyside public get behind.
"Every single penny that gets raised will be going to charity and it would nice to see the stadium full of families because that is what the day is going to be about. It's a huge honour to play for Liverpool and I just want to try and give something back.
"Everton and David Moyes have been brilliant from the very start. When I thought about the testimonial, I started looking at a few different teams and when it would be best to play it but Everton were always my first idea.
"If we had gone for a foreign team, they would have incurred appearance fees and travel costs which would have needed paying for but that is not what this game is going to be about; the money we raise is for the city of Liverpool and Merseyside in general.
"Obviously Everton have only got to cross over the park but they never had any interest in expense. Everyone knows I was an Evertonian when I was a kid and I just thought it would be appropriate for the two teams in my life to have a game of football."
The 32-year-old has also insisted that he has no intention of leaving Anfield despite continuing speculation over future after contract talks stalled earlier this season, but has agreed to discuss matters with manager Rafael Benitez at the end of the current campaign.
He added: "I've spoke to the manager about it and we both agreed that it would be better if we talked about it at the start of next season.
"There was an interview with a national newspaper and the headline was a bit misleading, saying that I would be prepared to leave Liverpool.
"Really, I said that if Liverpool didn't want me, I'd be forced to sign for someone else because I'd have no other option.
"I don't want to retire yet. I understand at my age, you can only make decisions season by season. But I want to finish my career at Liverpool. I don't want to play for anyone else."
http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/129000-liverpool-fcs-jamie-carragher-reveals-testimonial-everton-clash.html
The game has been scheduled to take place during the international break with a host of the veteran defender's former team mates already confirmed to take part, including Robbie Fowler, Steve McManaman, Dietmar Hamann, Jamie Redknapp and Michael Owen.
Carragher is hopeful that fellow Champions League winners Sami Hyypia and Jerzy Dudek will feature whilst David Moyes has pledged to field his strongest possible XI for the clash, with all proceeds from the game going to the '23 Foundation'.
"It has been in the pipeline for four or five months and I've had to keep things quiet but I'm delighted now that I can start to talk about it properly," said Carragher.
"Hopefully it should be a great occasion, one that the Merseyside public get behind.
"Every single penny that gets raised will be going to charity and it would nice to see the stadium full of families because that is what the day is going to be about. It's a huge honour to play for Liverpool and I just want to try and give something back.
"Everton and David Moyes have been brilliant from the very start. When I thought about the testimonial, I started looking at a few different teams and when it would be best to play it but Everton were always my first idea.
"If we had gone for a foreign team, they would have incurred appearance fees and travel costs which would have needed paying for but that is not what this game is going to be about; the money we raise is for the city of Liverpool and Merseyside in general.
"Obviously Everton have only got to cross over the park but they never had any interest in expense. Everyone knows I was an Evertonian when I was a kid and I just thought it would be appropriate for the two teams in my life to have a game of football."
The 32-year-old has also insisted that he has no intention of leaving Anfield despite continuing speculation over future after contract talks stalled earlier this season, but has agreed to discuss matters with manager Rafael Benitez at the end of the current campaign.
He added: "I've spoke to the manager about it and we both agreed that it would be better if we talked about it at the start of next season.
"There was an interview with a national newspaper and the headline was a bit misleading, saying that I would be prepared to leave Liverpool.
"Really, I said that if Liverpool didn't want me, I'd be forced to sign for someone else because I'd have no other option.
"I don't want to retire yet. I understand at my age, you can only make decisions season by season. But I want to finish my career at Liverpool. I don't want to play for anyone else."
http://www.clickliverpool.com/sport/liverpool-fc/129000-liverpool-fcs-jamie-carragher-reveals-testimonial-everton-clash.html
