News of Jamie Carragher’s retirement shortly after his 35^th birthday came as little surprise, his body wearied by 16 years of relentless dedication and diligence to remain at the very top of his profession.

The Bootle born defender wasn’t blessed with the natural gifts of some of his more celebrated team-mates during his Reds career.  He was however imbued with a determination so strong to succeed at Anfield, that in retrospect nothing was going to stop Carragher enjoying the decorated period at the club that was to be his destiny.

The defining image of this football warrior is likely to be his refusal to concede to the cramp with which he was stricken during Liverpool’s miraculous Champions League final comeback against AC Milan in 2005.  Carragher didn’t merely hobble on, he contributed a mighty defensive performance, making a series of crucial blocks and saving tackles.

For Carragher, no possibility was out of reach, no cause ever lost.  It is for that attitude, and his distinct leadership qualities, that Brendan Rodgers has recently restored the player to his backline.  Regardless of a slight spike in form, Rodgers’ side still appeared vulnerable and wont to lose their way during any 90 minutes.  A costly inconsistency saw comfortable wins against QPR and Sunderland sandwiched by defeats against Stoke City and Manchester United, losses marked for Liverpool’s repeated erratic defending.

Carragher came in for his second Premier League start of the season, a facile home victory against Norwich City, but most tellingly after sitting out the calamitous F.A. Cup defeat at League One Oldham Athletic the 35 year-old was selected at the heart of the Red’s defence for huge away matches at Arsenal and Manchester City.

During both those stern examinations for his team, Carragher’s unyielding attributes were to the fore.  Although maybe not the defensive force of years previously, the centre-back’s anticipation, competitiveness, and most importantly, organisational skills, were vital in gaining two creditable draws.  Perhaps, in years of yore Liverpool would have clung on to triumph in both encounters, but that is a failing in the current unit, rather than of their legendary defender.

To see how much his side’s fortunes still mean to Carragher, witness his dismayed reaction as Sergio Aguero fatally punished Jose Reina’s charge from goal for Manchester City’s late equaliser at the Etihad Stadium.  It is notable that prior to his recent renaissance Carragher’s only other league start this term had been in the high profile clash at Chelsea, another afternoon on which he excelled.

A season which for the boyhood Evertonian had seemed destined to involve predominantly Europa League and Capital One Cup football is looking increasingly likely to be a fitting swansong played out on the most elevated of stages, firmly in the midst of Premier League battle.

To become such a revered figure in an environment as testing as that at Anfield, Carragher has needed to summon every ounce of his famed mental strength.  As he broke into the first-team, principally being employed as a full-back, the youngster didn’t convince, and indeed was subject to vast degrees of terrace criticism.

It wasn’t only supporters who needed convincing.  Jamie Redknapp has spoken of his doubts as to a fledgling Carragher’s ability, but recalls a new man returning for one pre-season, ‘fitter, faster, and stronger’ than months earlier.  Redknapp added that he had never encountered an individual prepared to work harder at his game.

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