Source: Liverpool_Echo
Picking Liverpool side is another Reds ambition fulfilled for Carra
Jamie Carragher 300[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]'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.'[LNB] 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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]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.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'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.[LNB]'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.'[LNB]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.
