Hansen backs Carra to continue

When Jamie Carragher made his Liverpool debut more than 13 years ago, he could only dream of one day being spoken of in the same breath as Alan Hansen.

As two very different defenders, it is unfair to compare them.

What is clear, though, is that they've both produced the quality required to join an elite band of players who can say they've played over 600 times for Liverpool.

In their case it's 620 apiece.

Carragher will usurp Hansen against Benfica in Lisbon tonight, shifting him back to ninth on the all time list of total number of appearances for Liverpool.

While injury forced Hansen to retire, the former club captain believes Carragher will continue to clock up many more games for the club.

"In modern day football it's a hell of an achievement to play over 600 games as Jamie has, especially for one club," said Hansen.

"Every year since 1977 when I was at Liverpool there seemed to be a testimonial. Players used to stay around for a long time whereas nowadays to stay 10 years in one place is an achievement in itself.

"But to be 10 years and play so consistently well to reach the number of games Carragher has is absolutely phenomenal. The level of consistency in his performance and how he has conducted himself is a tribute to Jamie Carragher."

His consistency has been such that Carragher has played in 50-plus games in eight of the last nine seasons for Liverpool and looks set to do so again this year.

That doesn't happen if you're not playing well and Hansen places the Bootle-born defender among the Liverpool greats.

"It's fantastic for Liverpool Football Club and the fans too," he says. "In a long line of centre-backs who have stood out for the club, here they have another one. You can go through eight or nine of them who have been sensational since big Ron Yeats came in under Bill Shankly. Jamie is up there with the best of them.

"To play 621 games - and counting - is absolutely sensational."

On his own admission, Carragher did not have the best start to this season.

He turned 32 in January providing an easy target for critics to begin to write him off.

Hansen says this is inevitable for players of a certain age. It's how you bounce back that counts.

The Match Of The Day pundit believes Carragher has worked hard to address his form and is back to his best again.

"The last six weeks or so would sum Carragher up," says Hansen. "He's not had the best season by his standards, and looked to be struggling at times. But he's played really well lately. He had a great game against Wayne Rooney at Old Trafford but, even before that, was getting back to the level he's been at for a number of seasons now."

Hansen insists Carragher has plenty left in the tank before it's time to hang up his boots.

"The way he's playing now I'd say he's definitely got a few more years in him at the top level. For me, he's as good as ever.

"It doesn't matter what age you are. I was 35 when I packed in but that was because I had a bad right knee.

"The last season I played, in 1990, I only missed four or five matches and was going as good as ever.

"But the problem is that, once you hit 30 and have a period of trouble, people just point to your age and say you're finished.

"It's difficult to come back from that but Jamie has done exceptionally well, particularly to play as he is in the latter stages of the season when players tend to tire. It doesn't matter who you are, whether you've been a model of consistency and the best central defender of your generation or whatever. People don't take any prisoners.

"Once you get to a certain age and have a bad run they will write you off.

"But Jamie has got enough mental strength to deal with that.

"He's proven it by overcoming the critics.

"Among all the things that have changed in football over the years, the only way you can answer any critic is by doing it on the pitch.

"That's what he's done and that's full credit to him.

"He's come back strong again and that's simply because he wants to play for Liverpool."

As Carragher makes his 621st appearance tonight, Hansen has no qualms about making way for the Reds stalwart.

"When I retired I must have had about 20 different records," he says.

"Things like being the only player to have a Championship winners medal from three different decades. That's gone.

"We had the most games unbeaten at home. Now that's gone too.

"I look at some of the records now that people like Ryan Giggs have got and they're incredible.

"Obviously you wish it was a Liverpool player every time but Jamie's record to play that amount of games at a time when people are moving on left, right and centre is an unbelievable show of loyalty too.

"For that alone, Liverpool supporters should be eternally grateful."

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.