Liverpool 0 Everton 0: Rodgers praises ‘colossal’ Carragher

Brendan Rodgers was gushing with praise for Jamie Carragher after watching the Liverpool veteran impress in his final Merseyside derby.

Everton held their local rivals to a goalless draw at Anfield to all but ensure they will finish above the Reds in the Premier League this season.

The 35-year-old Carragher is to retire in the summer and Rodgers expressed his admiration for the centre-half after he helped the Reds keep a clean sheet in his 30th Merseyside derby.

“He’s more than a model pro. He’s colossal,” said Rodgers, who admits he will face a tough challenge replacing Carragher this summer.

“He turns up every day prepared to work. His motivation has never dampened. He lives for football, he eats the right things and never looks for an easy day.

“In the international week he’s working with the young players and giving them great advice as well as working hard himself.

“You saw him out there at 35 and he was at the top of his game.

“He was absolutely outstanding – and having worked with him for so long, I can clearly see why he was one of Europe’s top defenders for so many years.

“We’ll have to search far and wide to get someone in to be at that level.”

Liverpool travel to Fulham next Sunday for their penultimate Premier League game.