Picking team an ambition for Carra

Jamie Carragher is sat at a table in his Liverpool One café, rubbing his brow and starring intently at piece of paper that has a number of familiar names scribbled on it.

Then, in between sips from a glass of water, he springs into action; those names are assigned to various positions on what quickly becomes apparent, is a scaled down football pitch and the times they will play are put in brackets alongside.

He is, of course, organising the Liverpool team that will play in his testimonial against Everton tomorrow and while this might be a light-hearted affair, the fact the Reds have never beaten the Blues in such a game is not far from Carragher's mind.

"This is the part we can enjoy," said Carragher. "A lot of people have put a lot of work into making it happen but hopefully it will be a good game with plenty of goals - and we'll get our first win over Everton."

The smile which follows that statement shows that Carragher is not as keyed up as he would be if this was a normal meeting between these olds foes and it is unlikely he will be pacing the floorboards this evening, unable to sleep because of anxiety.

Yes, both sides will want to win tomorrow but the aim of this testimonial is for the people of Merseyside to benefit, as it is hoped £1million can be raised through gate receipts and from a gala dinner in the evening.

But while this scene is relaxed, the meticulous way he is going about his business makes it easy to envisage a time when he is plotting tactics and preparing a Liverpool team for real - a career in management, most definitely, is on Carragher's horizon.

For the moment, though, all his thoughts are geared towards a day 13 years in the making; as he looks back on his glittering career, he is genuinely humbled by the thought a huge crowd will cram into Anfield to recognise his efforts.

"One of my first games for Liverpool was a testimonial," said Carragher. "I played in Jan Molby's back in 1996 against PSV Eindhoven. I also remember when I was a kid going to Ronnie Whelan's against Newcastle in 1993.

"I was an Everton fan at that time but I'd just got back from Lilleshall and I was desperate just to go and see a game of football. I remember just getting a seat and watching, as Newcastle had just been promoted to the Premier League.

"Never did I think I'd end up having my own. When you get into the team, the first target is just to play a couple of games; after you've done that, you might set a target like 100 games. But with Liverpool, you can never look too far ahead.

"You have always got to be looking over your shoulder and thinking that there might be something around the corner; there will always be someone who wants to take your place - new players and new managers with different ideas. You never, ever relax."

Those words are not delivered just for effect; he might have represented Liverpool 635 times, won a raft of medals and has long since secured his place in the pantheon of legends but this testimonial will not be the signal for him to start ambling along.

The enthusiasm and hunger remains as strong as when he was first promoted to the realms of the first team, while the wit is as quick as ever - if Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres are Liverpool's inspiration, Carragher remains the heartbeat.

To think, then, there was a time when he was simply viewed as something of a jack-of-all-trades but master of none; in the early years when he filled in a variety of positions, many simply felt he was in the team to warm a seat for someone else.

Significantly, however, the man himself took a different view; once he was initially given a Red shirt by Roy Evans in 1997, the thought of forging his career elsewhere never crossed his mind. He has, quite simply, embodied the passion of the Kop.

"I always thought I'd make it but never in a bigheaded way," he said. "Doesn't everybody think that way? I don't suppose I'd ever thought I'd be as lucky to achieve as much as I have done but I always felt I could get into the first team.

"Don't get me wrong, there have been times during my career when I've seen people coming in and thought the writing might be on the wall. There were periods when I thought it would be tough but I've always had mental strength.

"I've always had fight and commitment and if someone has come to take my place, I've always made it my target to win the battle. Have I ever come close to leaving? Do you know, I can't even remember a club ever speaking to my agent.

"I've never wanted that, obviously, but I used to sometimes wonder 'does anyone think I'm any good?' - I suppose people have seen me so attached to Liverpool that there would never be a chance."

Make that no chance. In the next few weeks, he will put pen to paper on a deal that will effectively keep him at Liverpool for the rest of his playing days - and that, seemingly, would give him as much satisfaction as any of the medals he has collected.

"I've spoken with the club about a new contract and that is something that will happen very shortly," revealed Liverpool's number 23. "I'm hoping that I will be a one-club man - that's my aim.

"I think it is brilliant when players have finished their careers and you ask them who they have played for and they just say the one team; Tony Adams with Arsenal, (Franco) Baresi and (Paolo) Maldini with AC Milan.

"It will be the same for Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes and it's looking like it will happen for me and Stevie, too. I've always thought it would be great when I have finished just to be able say 'I played for Liverpool' and nothing else."

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