http://www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news//tm_headline=ian-doyle-age-won-8217-t-wait-for-carragher-but-defender-still-giving-his-all%26method=full%26objectid=29675947%26siteid=92534-name_page.html
WHILE Luis Suarez was grabbing the headlines at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday night, it would have been easy to overlook another pointer to Liverpool’s future.
As Kenny Dalglish’s side fought from a goal behind to win through to the last eight of the Carling Cup, there was one man missing from the heart of defence: Jamie Carragher.
Carragher, who started the match alongside Sebastian Coates at centre-back, had been substituted at half-time for Martin Skrtel.
Now, this is no claim of a direct correlation between Liverpool’s revival and Carragher being absent. After all, few players represent as much desire to succeed as the defender.
Nor is this signalling the death knell of Carragher’s glorious and decorated Anfield career that stands at a remarkable 679 games and still very much counting.
But, aged 34 this coming January, even the former England international accepts he is entering the twilight years of his career.
And given the plethora of centre-back options at Kenny Dalglish’s disposal, Carragher faces an increasingly strong challenge to his starting role.
Daniel Agger, left-back at Stoke, is again available, although given his injury-prone record that may not be for too long.
Skrtel has arguably been the most improved player in Liverpool’s squad since the January arrival of Dalglish and, perhaps most pertinently, Steve Clarke.
And while Coates was at fault for Stoke’s goal, the Uruguay international demonstrated with his reading of the game and ability to cope with an aerial battle that, even at the age of 20, he has a bright future ahead.
Carragher has never been the quickest centre-back, but what he lacks in pace he has more than made up for in positional play, intelligent organisation and guts.
However, more than 13 years at the top of his profession have inevitably taken their toll.
And the understandable intent not to get caught out by a nippy young forward means Carragher, and therefore Liverpool’s entire defence, has been dropping deeper than in recent years.
It’s impossible to say whether that has contributed to the failure to keep a clean sheet against 11 men this season, although Carragher was unfortunate to see individual errors punished earlier in the campaign.
But that, by definition, has allowed teams to progress ever nearer to Pepe Reina’s goal. Indeed, during the second half at Stoke, with Carragher missing the Liverpool defence kept a noticeably higher line.
Of course, Carragher has heard this criticism all before. He thrives on proving doubters wrong. This time last year, he was written off in some quarters but returned from injury to play an integral part for the incoming Dalglish.
However, it seems Bootle’s finest is now entering the same phase of his career experienced by another legendary Liverpool centre-back, Sami Hyypia.
Hyypia, after almost a decade at the heart of defence, eventually lost his regular first-team role at roughly the same age Carragher is now, but stayed on for another two seasons, still a formidable presence when called upon and an outstanding influence off the pitch.
Dalglish spoke only last month how Carragher, along with fellow homegrown talent Steven Gerrard, will remain at Liverpool for as long as they make a difference.
That will be for some time yet. However, Carragher’s central reservation has rarely been under as much threat.
WHILE Luis Suarez was grabbing the headlines at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday night, it would have been easy to overlook another pointer to Liverpool’s future.
As Kenny Dalglish’s side fought from a goal behind to win through to the last eight of the Carling Cup, there was one man missing from the heart of defence: Jamie Carragher.
Carragher, who started the match alongside Sebastian Coates at centre-back, had been substituted at half-time for Martin Skrtel.
Now, this is no claim of a direct correlation between Liverpool’s revival and Carragher being absent. After all, few players represent as much desire to succeed as the defender.
Nor is this signalling the death knell of Carragher’s glorious and decorated Anfield career that stands at a remarkable 679 games and still very much counting.
But, aged 34 this coming January, even the former England international accepts he is entering the twilight years of his career.
And given the plethora of centre-back options at Kenny Dalglish’s disposal, Carragher faces an increasingly strong challenge to his starting role.
Daniel Agger, left-back at Stoke, is again available, although given his injury-prone record that may not be for too long.
Skrtel has arguably been the most improved player in Liverpool’s squad since the January arrival of Dalglish and, perhaps most pertinently, Steve Clarke.
And while Coates was at fault for Stoke’s goal, the Uruguay international demonstrated with his reading of the game and ability to cope with an aerial battle that, even at the age of 20, he has a bright future ahead.
Carragher has never been the quickest centre-back, but what he lacks in pace he has more than made up for in positional play, intelligent organisation and guts.
However, more than 13 years at the top of his profession have inevitably taken their toll.
And the understandable intent not to get caught out by a nippy young forward means Carragher, and therefore Liverpool’s entire defence, has been dropping deeper than in recent years.
It’s impossible to say whether that has contributed to the failure to keep a clean sheet against 11 men this season, although Carragher was unfortunate to see individual errors punished earlier in the campaign.
But that, by definition, has allowed teams to progress ever nearer to Pepe Reina’s goal. Indeed, during the second half at Stoke, with Carragher missing the Liverpool defence kept a noticeably higher line.
Of course, Carragher has heard this criticism all before. He thrives on proving doubters wrong. This time last year, he was written off in some quarters but returned from injury to play an integral part for the incoming Dalglish.
However, it seems Bootle’s finest is now entering the same phase of his career experienced by another legendary Liverpool centre-back, Sami Hyypia.
Hyypia, after almost a decade at the heart of defence, eventually lost his regular first-team role at roughly the same age Carragher is now, but stayed on for another two seasons, still a formidable presence when called upon and an outstanding influence off the pitch.
Dalglish spoke only last month how Carragher, along with fellow homegrown talent Steven Gerrard, will remain at Liverpool for as long as they make a difference.
That will be for some time yet. However, Carragher’s central reservation has rarely been under as much threat.
