Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admits he'll miss Jamie Carragher's influence.

Rodgers took time to pay a glowing tribute to the veteran centre-back ahead of his retirement this summer.

He said: "He will definitely be able to do that [captain Liverpool] in these next couple of games and I hope he continues the form he's shown, not just since he's come into the team, but what he has shown for me in every game he has played.

"I didn't put him in at the start of the season purely because we were looking to the future and I knew what Jamie's plans were for the next year to 18 months. But in every game he has played for me this season, he has been absolutely outstanding.

"It was no direct result of Martin Skrtel's performances, I just felt the team needed some leadership and organisation. Since Jamie has come in, he's been arguably one of the best defenders in the Barclays Premier League.

"He's been a great man to work with. His influence will be missed around Melwood and the changing rooms in particular.

"I'll miss the football chats I've had with him on a near enough daily basis. He's been absolutely brilliant. For a young manager coming into a club like this, the senior players have been outstanding - and Jamie has been one of them.

"He's been a real fantastic servant to this club and a real colossal player. He'll want to finish well like we all do, and that'll be the aim in the next couple of games."