“One of the big question marks around FSG’s ownership of Liverpool to date has been leadership – or lack of. There has been a reliance on a structure that has lacked experience of top level football at all levels. So does Liverpool need an experienced leader at the helm? Or are Ian Ayre and Brendan Rodgers capable of stepping up into the two most critical roles at the football club? The lack of experience at the club has been exposed a number of times during FSG’s tenure with avoidable situations such as the Suarez affair and the Duncan Jenkins mess. Both of these incidents could have potentially been avoided with a strong CEO in situ.” Tomkins Times

“Jamie Carragher will leave a huge hole at Liverpool when he retires at the end of the season, according to former team-mate Jason McAteer. Carragher, 35, today announced he will quit football following his 17th Premier League campaign after spending his entire career at the Merseyside club. The former England international, who earned 38 caps for his country, is second only to Ian Callaghan in the club’s all-time appearance table with more than 700 Liverpool games under his belt.” Independent

Liverpool will miss Jamie Carragher, a rare breed who defied doubters
“The farewell is typical of Jamie Carragher in so many ways. His obligation to deliver for Liverpool shapes the announcement that an illustrious playing career will cease this summer, and the timing of it. There is no fanfare and no reflections on 16 years that brought two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Uefa Cup and, of course, one unforgettable Champions League triumph.” Guardian

Jamie Carragher and the ultimate one-club footballers
“Jamie Carragher has announced he will retire at the end of the season, bringing an end to a career spent entirely at Liverpool. One club men are a rare breed in modern football, but here we pay homage to the players who topped 500 games – and never played for another club.” Independent

Ayre lauds ‘colossal’ Carragher
“Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre has hailed Jamie Carragher as ‘selfless” and “a colossal figure’ after the defender announced his plan to retire at the end of the season. Carragher, 35, is leaving Anfield after more than a quarter of a century with the club he joined as a nine-year-old – and Ayre has refused to rule out finding another role at the club for the centre-back. The defender, who made his debut in January 1997, has played 723 times for Liverpool, placing him second only to Ian Callaghan on the club’s all-time appearance list.” ESPN