Carragher out to impress new Anfield boss

Jamie Carragher is determined to make the most of Liverpool’s pre-season trip to north America.

The Reds will play three matches as part of the ChampionsWorld Series, with fixtures set against Celtic in East Hartford tomorrow, followed by Porto in Toronto and finally Roma in New Jersey.

New boss Rafael Benitez will use the games as final preparations for Liverpool’s Champions League qualifier on August 10. And he selected a 23-man squad, with striker Neil Mellor missing out after suffering a knee injury in training which will sideline him for six weeks while £10million El-Hadji Diouf was left out altogether, casting further uncertainty over his Anfield future.

England defender Carragher believes it will be a great chance for the players to bond as the squad travels abroad together under their new manager for the first time.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he told the club’s official website, www.Liverpoolfc.tv.

“I think sometimes players dread pre-season trips, but everyone seems to be excited about the prospect of playing in America. I’ve never played over there and it should be good.

“The main purpose of the trip is to train and play football.

“We will be playing against three quality in teams in three big stadiums and I can’t wait.”

Benitez included five youngsters for the trip; French Under-21 pair Anthony Le Tallec and Florent Sinama-Pongolle, plus home-grown players Paul Harrison – as third-choice goalkeeper – defender Zak Whitbread and midfielder Stephen Warnock, who was out on loan last season at Coventry.

The tour will give the players a chance to impress and influence Benitez’s thinking as he finalises plans for his buying, having already been linked with tough young Argentinian defender Fabricio Coloccini who is currently preparing for the Copa America final against Brazil.

Croatian Igor Biscan started in central midfield for the midweek friendly win at Wrexham, where the Liverpool manager used 21 players and surprisingly only included Norwegian full-back John Arne Riise in the second period.

Riise had an erratic season last term, but believes he is up to the task.

He said: “Everyone wants to be in the team on the first day of the season, so we are all working as hard as we can to get there.

“Of course you’re always a bit concerned when the manager changes because you never know if the new man is going to like your style of play. If he doesn’t then you have to go.

“Rafael Benitez has told us we all start from scratch and that we’ll all be given the opportunity to show what we can do in pre-season.

“I’m not scared of losing my position, but I am doing my best to make sure he likes me and the way I play.”

Riise added: “He’s going to take time to work out his first XI. I’m ready to fight for my place in the team and so are 30 other players.”