Brendan: Carra is still in the gym
Brendan Rodgers has revealed how Jamie Carragher has been in the gym, days before the final game of his Liverpool career, grafting as though it was in preparation for his very first.
The 35-year-old will bid farewell to the Kop on Sunday afternoon when the final whistle blows in the Reds' clash against Queens Park Rangers at Anfield.
For the man who has racked up 736 appearances during a special 16-year career, this week has been his last at Melwood.
However, rather than enjoy an easy time bidding farewell and soaking up the tributes, Carragher has been working and preparing for the weekend's clash.
Rodgers told reporters gathered at Melwood: "It's been an absolute privilege to work with him.
"He's in the final week of his career, going into the game against QPR at 35 years of age.
"He knows he's retiring, but after training yesterday he was still in the gymnasium, preparing himself with the same commitment that he has shown his entire career.
"He could have had a lazy day. He could have had a bit of lunch and then shot home, but he was in the gym preparing his body and doing his core work, his flexibility and preparing himself to the maximum to be his best.
"And that says it all about him; that at the end of his career, he is still preparing as if it was his first game.
"I'll miss him because he's totally in tune with what I'm trying to do and where we are trying to go as a football club.
"He knows the intensity and the passion and the quality that is needed because he has been there.
"I speak with Jamie a lot; we have a lot of football chats. He's someone I'll miss for sure. He's a wonderful influence in the dressing room and out on the field."
Rodgers admired Carragher's footballing talents from afar, especially during his days working at Chelsea, when Jose Mourinho was the manager and Liverpool were the enemy.
And since the Northern Irishman took up the reins as manager at Melwood in June last year, Carragher has not failed to meet the high expectations Rodgers had of him.
"I've been coaching for a long time and worked with many players," continued the manager. "I looked at Jamie all those years back and saw him as one of the great players of the Premier League.
"And then I've had the chance to come in and work with him and see the humility of the man and his professionalism.
"This is a really humble guy, who is very much the same as the boy who entered into the club all those years ago.
"It will make the game against QPR a really special occasion and certainly one in which we want to go out on a high."
As Rodgers nears almost a year in the Anfield hot-seat, the manager was asked if he would like to emulate the longevity and success Carra has enjoyed at Anfield.
His response was unequivocal: "Absolutely. It's why I came here.
"I left a brilliant club in Swansea. I was in no rush to leave. I was 39 years of age and hopefully going to be in the game for a long time, but the chance to come to a club like this here is a dream for many people.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and I needed to take it. I wanted to take it because I hoped I could build something here and stay here for a long time.
"We're trying to put things in place that can make the club sustainable going forward, on and off the field, but I know I need to win games, it's as simple as that, in order to stay here for that length of time."