Liverpool’s Enrique wants to emulate Carragher and Gerrard at Anfield

Jose Enrique says he wants to emulate Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard at Liverpool as the defender nears the end of his second season at Anfield.

The Spaniard has made a marked improvement during the campaign under Brendan Rodgers, alternating between a left-back and left-midfield position and scoring two goals and making four assists.

Enrique completed a £7m move from Newcastle United in the summer of 2011, and the former Villarreal man says the presence of Carragher, Gerrard and Luis Suárez convinced him to move to Anfield.

“One of the reasons I came here was Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard and now Luis Suárez,” said Enrique.

“These are players that have amazing history at the club and I want to try to be like them in the future here.”

Enrique hailed Carragher, who is set to join Gary Neville as a pundit at Sky Sports when he retires at the end of the season, after the defender made his 700th Liverpool appearance earlier this season.

“You have to respect the past he has here – he’s a player that has played 700 games,” he added.

“It’s not lucky, he deserves it. He has been an amazing player for Liverpool for many years and he’s an example for any player here.”

Despite a turbulent two seasons at Anfield, Enrique still has no regrets about his decision to join the Merseyside outfit.

“It was one of the best decisions in my life, in terms of football,” he added.

“Of course, I already played for a good club at Newcastle, but you can’t compare one club with the other in terms of history.

“It was really quick; I knew there was interest from before the summer. When they started talking to Newcastle about how much I was going to go for, it was one or two days to sort it out. I told them I wanted to come here.

“I’m really happy with my decision to be here; it’s my second season and I’m playing a lot, like last year. I’m improving a lot as a player and a person as well.”