Kenny hails Carragher’s ‘steadying influence’

LIVERPOOL manager Kenny Dalglish believes Jamie Carragher still has plenty to offer the club as the veteran defender prepares to pass another landmark in his career.

The centre-back, captaining the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, is set to play his 666th match for the club against Fulham tonight.

It will put the 33-year-old second in the all-time list in terms of appearances at Anfield, although it is unlikely he will eventually get past Ian Callaghan’s phenomenal 857.

Carragher, who has a year left on his contract, has been linked with a move into the club’s backroom staff when he finally finishes playing and it has even been suggested he could one day become manager. The former England international is, however, concentrating on his playing career at the moment — for which Dalglish is grateful as the defender is the steadying influence at the back.

“It is a great accolade for him to be the second in the table for most appearances as a Liverpool player,” said the Scot.

“He has been here a while and hopefully he will be here for a lot longer.

“Cally (Callaghan) is iconic here not just because of the number of games he played but for the service he gave to the club and the success he brought with him.

“He was there at the start of the foundations for the club, he was in there with Shanks (former manager Bill Shankly).

“Carra might have just missed out on that but he has been a part of an awful lot of people’s reign at the club and has served every single one of them superbly well.

“I am sure he has one or two miles left in him yet.”

Liverpool head to Craven Cottage looking to regain fifth place from Tottenham and take back the initiative in the race for Europa League qualification.

Having scraped past Fulham at Anfield in January, thanks to a John Pantsil own goal, Dalglish is well aware it will not be an easy task with memories of their 3-1 defeat there last season typical of the problems they endured last campaign.

“Fulham played very well here, we beat them 1-0 and were quite fortunate,” said the Reds boss.

“They are on a good run so they have had an excellent season and it is going to be difficult for us, as every game is. If they hadn’t had as many draws at the beginning of the season they would be a lot higher up the league.”

Dalglish will make a late check on defender Fabio Aurelio and forward Milan Jovanovic before the trip south but otherwise he is likely to stick with the players who beat Newcastle last weekend.