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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher expects to return to full training next week and hopes to be fit to face Chelsea when the Premier League resumes.

The 33-year-old missed the last two matches with a calf injury and is keen to get back into action, but will not put pressure on himself to make the trip to Stamford Bridge a week on Sunday.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a muscle injury in my life but I’m coming along fine,” Carragher told Liverpool Echo.

“I’m working with the physios this week and if things continue to go well the plan is to get back into full training at the start of next week.

“It was always going to be tight to be fit for the Swansea game last weekend and with a two-week break after that match there was no point doing anything silly.

“It’s important to ensure I get it 100% right.

“Hopefully I’ll be available for the Chelsea game but I’m not thinking about games at this stage.

“My first target is just getting back on the training pitch with the lads and that should happen early next week.”

Despite his advancing years, the Reds’ vice-captain is confident the fitness problem is only a minor issue as he looks to add to his tally of 679 appearances for the Reds.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever had a muscle injury in my life,” he said.

“I suppose that’s not a bad record so I can’t complain too much. “The good thing is it wasn’t a bad one and it has only kept me out for a short period.

“I was quite fortunate and it’s not something that should happen again.”

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Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish insists captain Steven Gerrard is over his latest fitness problem and that he is recovering well.

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The 31-year-old missed last weekend’s win at West Brom and has been ruled out of Saturday’s visit of Swansea and England’s two forthcoming friendlies because of an ankle infection.

Pictures of Gerrard leaving hospital on Sunday on crutches with his right leg in a protective cast led to speculation about the extent of the problem and what procedure he had actually undergone.

But Dalglish dismissed the conspiracy theories.

“Since they have found the infection he has progressed extremely well and everything is positive for him,” said the Scot.

“We found the infection but I suppose it is a bit like flu – you know you’ve got it but you don’t know where it came from.

“But it is responding really well so that is positive for him. There’s nothing more sinister either.”

Liverpool are also without the services of Jamie Carragher (calf) and he is unlikely to be ready to return at the weekend.

And while Dalglish admits the side miss their Scouse heartbeat he feels that, unlike at times in the past, his can cope without them.

“We will have a rain check on Carra. If he’s not going to be right he’s not going to be right,” added the Reds boss.

“I think as a club we are much better with those two fit.

“They have been fantastic servants for the club and they will continue to be.

“It is a great achievement for the boys to get a result at West Brom without either of those two playing.”

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After 14 years and 676 appearances, Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher admits he could retire at the end of next season.

The 33-year-old has been a regular in the Reds backline since making his debut in the League Cup against Middlesbrough in 1997.

But the ex-England international concedes his long and glittering career may be nearing its end.

Carragher was asked at the Leaders in Football conference in London how long he had left in the game, he replied: ”Ask (Liverpool boss) Kenny (Dalglish).

“He picks the team. It will be up to the coaching staff I suppose. You want to try to get as much out of your career and play as long as possible.

“The time will come in the next 12, 18 months, maybe two years.

“That won’t be down to myself. It will be down to the people around me, the staff, the manager. They will decide.”

Carragher’s leadership skills have seen him touted as a future Liverpool boss, and the vice-captain admits he would love to go in to management when he retires.

“Do I want to go in to coaching or management?” he added. “Yes, I think so. “I’ve taken my first steps to coaching and the B licence.

“We all love the game, you want to stay involved in the game.”

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Charlie Adam’s move to Liverpool appears to finally be sorted. 6 months after initially trying to buy Adam, and after weeks of tough negotiations with Karl Oyston, the Blackpool chairman, Liverpool have finally persuaded Blackpool to part with their captain after matching the undisclosed asking price, reported to be in the region of £7m plus add ons. It is suggested that the deal will see Jonjo Shelvey going the opposite way on a season-long loan, but this is yet to be confirmed. Blackpool did the right thing not selling their skipper in January in the hope that he could help save them from relegation. He couldn’t, and now Liverpool have swooped, agreeing a price that is less than the reported £10m that was rejected in the January transfer window. Why Adam? Do Liverpool really need another centre midfielder? Just what will he add to the team? This transfer has caused countless debates amongst Liverpool fans and neutrals alike, and while the question of whether or not he will be a success will only be answered in time, there is enough evidence to suggest that he will be a hit.

Liverpool’s transfer strategy is now common knowledge: target young players, preferably British, who have potential resale value. Jordan Henderson illustrates this strategy perfectly- a 21-year-old England international with over 70 Premier League appearances under his belt. Should he not turn out to be what they had expected in 2 or 3 years time, he is still young enough and will have enough experience to get a decent fee back for him. Adam does not quite tick the boxes like Henderson does- he is 25 years old, he does not qualify for the new homegrown rules, and he has only one season of Premier League football behind him.

However, that one season was outstanding, gaining Adam a nomination for PFA Players’ Player of the Year. Factor in also the fact that in both games against Liverpool, Adam played them off the park- something acknowledged by both Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard during their appearance on Goals on Sunday back in March. Adam’s quality and creativity on the ball was evident during these displays, as it was all season. It was noticeable that when Raul Meireles was injured towards the back end of the season, Liverpool struggled to retain possession in the midfield. Adam’s arrival is a solution to this problem, but also puts huge question marks over the future of some of Liverpool’s other centre midfielders.

It must be assumed that Christian Poulsen will be shown the door, provided Liverpool can find a buyer, while Jonjo Shelvey will most likely be heading out on loan in order to help his development, possibly even to Blackpool. This still leaves Steven Gerrard, Lucas, Raul Meireles, Henderson, Jay Spearing and the returning Alberto Aquilani to fight it out for a starting spot. With this many players that play in one position, why then did Dalglish feel the need to add Adam to his squad? It is possible that Meireles and/or Aquilani will not be Anfield come the close of the transfer window. Both have their credentials and can offer different qualities, but are they enough?

Meireles was the one signing by Roy Hodgson that wasn’t a disaster, and he even won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year award for his first season at Anfield. He scored some memorable goals as he went through a patch of 5 goals in 6 games, including the winner against Chelsea and a wonder-strike against Wolves. However he failed to perform at the start of the season under Hodgson, granted he was played out of position and the whole team struggled, but following that purple patch following Dalglish’s arrival, his form dipped again.

Meireles was always neat and tidy in possession, but there were games where he simply didn’t contribute enough. There have been reports that Meireles wants an improved contract too, but at 28 years old, FSG are reluctant to offer a new contract to somebody who will have virtually no resale value by the time that contract is nearing an end. Meireles is also one of the few players that Liverpool may actually be able to make a profit on to balance the books.

As for Aquilani, it is unfortunate that he may also leave the club. When he was fit, he looked like a real asset, always looking to go forward when he had the ball and he also chipped in with a few goals and assists. Not that stats are everything, but it is funny to think that since his arrival in August 2009, and despite the fact that he was out on loan for the whole of last season, he has still given more Premier League assists (6) in that time that Luka Modric (5). Juventus refused to pay the set fee that was part of the loan agreement, while he has so far failed to attract suitors in his native Italy, where his agent claims he would be happiest. It is likely that should an Italian team offer him a chance to return to his homeland, Liverpool will let Aquilani go.

Now we come to what Adam will add to Liverpool. His passing range is something that has been recognised and lauded by all who have seen him play. When Liverpool sold Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid, they lost the fulcrum of their team. Everything went through Alonso, and that’s why his departure hit them so hard. I am not suggesting that Adam will be as good as Alonso, but he does have vision and a passing range worthy of comparison.

True, the stats show that his pass accuracy is well below that of some other midfielders, but given his style of play and the amount of killer balls he attempts, this was always going to be the case. His ability to control a game and dictate the tempo will have caught Dalglish’s attention, while his set pieces were one of

Blackpool’s most dangerous weapons last season. So dangerous in fact that Sir Alex Ferguson stated that Adam’s “corners alone are worth £10m”. Having added Andy Carroll to their ranks in January, and given the threat that Carroll poses from set pieces, this will surely give Liverpool another source of goals. He may not be that strong defensively, but playing alongside Lucas should give Adam the freedom to play his own game, spreading passes from deep and breaking forward to join in attacks. His style of play is exactly what Liverpool need, and they will benefit greatly from what Adam can offer.

Adam gives more than just ability with the ball however. He is a leader and most importantly, he wants to play for Liverpool Football Club. Rumours were circulating that Manchester United and Tottenham both made bids for Adam, but the player had his heart set on a move to Liverpool. This is exactly the sort of player that every team wants. His teammates will love playing with him, and the Kop will love his stylish passing and great enthusiasm. Adam wanted Liverpool and Liverpool wanted Adam- so much so in fact that Kenny Dalglish drove Adam to Melwood for his medical. This isn’t the first such incident. Go back 20 years ago to when Dalglish was in his first stint as Liverpool manager, and was trying to persuade a youth team player by the name of Robbie Fowler to commit his future to Liverpool. Dalglish saw Fowler and his father waiting for a bus home from Anfield, and insisted on going the opposite direction to his own house to drop them home. This sort of man management is typical of Dalglish and shows the player that both he and the club care.

So Liverpool’s second signing of this window appears to be all but wrapped up, and everybody seems happy. Dalglish has finally gotten his man, Adam has his dream move, while Blackpool have made a significant profit on the £500,000 paid to Rangers for Adam’s signature. It is rare nowadays that top class players emerge from the SPL, but in Charlie Adam, Liverpool may have just found one. Scottish players have a habit of doing well at Liverpool. Just look at the likes of Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness, Billy Liddell and of course Kenny Dalglish. It would be a daunting, near impossible task to ask Adam to follow in the footsteps of these greats, but make no mistake, Adam will relish the challenge.

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says his club’s transfer activity will pick up a gear and expects to see more young talent to arrive.

The Reds have only bought Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson in a £16million deal but they have been linked with a number of stars.

Blackpool captain Charlie Adam and Aston Villa’s Stewart Downing are expected to move to Anfield in the next few weeks.

But having seen Ipswich target Connor Wickham join Sunderland and Arsenal’s Gael Clichy set for a move to Manchester City there is a worry they are falling behind their rivals.

Carragher is unconcerned and backed the club’s hierarchy to get more value for money from their signings and to bring in the right players.

“It’s still very early and I didn’t expect too much to happen on the transfer front before now,” he told the Liverpool Echo.

“Over the summer players, managers, chief executives and owners are all away on holiday.

“It’s only the start of July and with pre-season getting going next week I’m sure things will soon start moving.

“You often find that one deal sets it off and everything happens from there.

“I’m sure it will kick off over the next few weeks and hopefully we’ll get a couple more new faces in.

“The club now has a policy of focusing attention on young players and I think that’s the right way for clubs to go.

“You want to develop a team and have players at the club for a long time. I think that approach will really benefit us.

“Things don’t always work out, but it’s much easier to move on a younger player who still has a decent sell-on value than someone in their 30s.”

Carragher pointed to the acquisition of Henderson as an example.

“Jordan is a great signing. I know one of the coaches at Sunderland who rates Jordan very highly,” he added.

“He had a great season with Sunderland and we’re fortunate to have got him. I think he will add real energy to our midfield.”

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher revealed his former England team-mates were scared to play for the national team.

The 33-year-old played at last summer’s World Cup in South Africa having come out of international retirement to play at the request of manager Fabio Capello.

England performed dismally at the tournament before being humiliated in a 4-1 defeat by Germany in the last 16, leading to a torrent of criticism for both players and management.

Carragher has now retired for good from international football, but claimed the squad are on are on tenterhooks when they play for England and feel less pressure when appearing for their clubs.

He also claims the players were bored in South Africa as they were couped up in their hotel for long periods inbetween matches.

“One mistake and you could be absolutely slaughtered,” Carragher told BBC Radio 5 live.

“At your club, you know you will not be criticised as much and perhaps three days later there will be another game.

“With England, it could be months before you have another fixture. There is a fear at times when playing for England.”

“The intensity of the press does get to the players. Sometimes I think players would prefer the press guy to think they had played well, rather than the manager.”

“You stay in a hotel all day but you are at a World Cup for a long time and should be able to experience different things,” he added.

“I wouldn’t want players holed up. Take away the boredom, embrace the country we are in more. You never see anything.”

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The King is back…Long live the King! Liverpool fans everywhere finally got the news they’d been craving since Rafa Benitez’s departure when Kop legend Kenny Dalglish was finally appointed as manager on a three-year deal.

In what have been turbulent times for Liverpool – a club that once prided itself on stability and grace – owners, managers and players have come and gone.

The world-class duo of Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano have left, the disastrous 44 month tenure of American cowboys Tom Hicks and George Gillett has come to an end, and Roy Hodgson received his P45 before the ink had dried on his own three-year contract.

In fact, the only real consistency around Anfield during this period has been the clamour for the appointment of Dalglish as manager. Despite being dismissed as yesterday’s man and a school of thought that football had moved on too much since the Scot last succeeded as a manager, ‘King Kenny’ has, thus far, proved a major success.

It’d be a significant injustice to the job Dalglish has done to disregard his permanent appointment as a favoured, romantic notion. The Scot has been the central catalyst in uniting a club that was previously owned by two Machiavellian figures and had, in Benitez, a political animal as manager.

But while his status as a Liverpool legend has unquestionably helped, it is Dalglish’s modus operandi that has been the real reason for his success. The identity of Liverpool football club has been rediscovered; local youngsters Martin Kelly, Jay Spearing, Jack Robinson and John Flanagan all feature regularly. They blossom. Older players – like Maxi Rodriguez – rediscover past glories, and the team performs with real hunger.

Ten wins, three draws and only three defeats since taking charge indicate this as surely as the previous 18 months underlined a club in a dystopian state.

Based on that evidence, it’s almost inevitable that Liverpool fans will begin to dream of that all-elusive Premier League title and a return to the glory days. That title may well be somewhere in the not-too-distant future, but it’s unlikely to come as soon as next year.

Liverpool may again be a club in the ascendancy, but they’ve been there before under the astute management of Benitez and discovered that that final step – to league champions – is the hardest one to take.

In reality, their current form and rise to fifth in the league serve to paper over the cracks that are still in existence.

Despite deserving recognition for his 666^th club appearance, Jamie Carragher is not nearly on a par with the player that so uncompromisingly marshalled Liverpool’s defence during the Benitez era. Steven Gerrard is already over a year into a steady decline, Pepe Reina’s future is still shrouded in speculation and Joe Cole looks like a man who has had any invention and artistry ruthlessly removed from his once-talented feet. His confidence and profile resemble that of a man walking the green mile and who knows, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that his best days are firmly behind him.

There are, of course, positives. Luis Suarez has been one of the best signings anywhere in world football and may have even more in his locker. Their youngsters will only get better, the commitment of the squad – Reina aside – is not in doubt, and even though the jury is still out on Andy Carroll, he can hardly have made a better start.

But to assume their revival is enough would, to put it simply, be idiotic and nonsensical. It would mean completely overlooking the merits of their rivals. As Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger recently said: “Everyone thinks they’ve got the prettiest wife at home”; Liverpool’s improvement may have been encouraging and infectious amongst the club’s fans, but there’s no question that the Premier League’s top four will all improve next season.

That’s not to say the Reds shouldn’t target a return to Champions League football. A club can realistically target finishing in the top four; they’re just highly unlikely to make the top two.

Of their rivals, Arsenal still have a young side who look set for investment in the summer and need tweaking as opposed to the overhauling Liverpool require.

Manchester United are also on the cusp of investment and – major or not – the form of Hernandez, Smalling, Nani and the re-emergence of Anderson means further improvement can be expected.

Chelsea are also set for their biggest foray into the transfer market since 2006 when Andriy Shevchenko and Michael Ballack signed up. Ramires and David Luiz will benefit from their experiences this season and return stronger, while Torres is likely to prove why he is still one of the world’s best finishers and be amongst the league’s top-scorers. They’ve run Man United closer than anyone in the league and will be stronger next year.

To top that, Manchester City’s inclusion in the Champions League may finally see them attract the elite talent that has, until now, evaded them. Not only is their squad already stronger than Liverpool’s, but being able to realistically compete for the likes of Kaka, Schweinstiger and Ibrahimovic – for argument’s sake – will see them hope to further improve and put in a sustained title challenge.

While it’s possible to argue that the instability seen at Man City and Chelsea could be their undoing – the wealth they both possess is one of English football’s greatest paradoxes – the case remains that being in the top four is one thing and winning the league another.

A season of competing and rebuilding the core of their side would be a successful one. The biggest trophies are out of their reach for now, but the signs are certainly positive. With Gerrard having his best rest in years, and a structure for success being re-established, Liverpool can look forward to gradually moving in the right direction again.

Premier League champions in 2012? Anfield wasn’t built in a day.

Follow Declan Warrington on Twitter @decwarrington.

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Liverpool duo Andy Carroll and Jamie Carragher will be be given late fitness tests in hope they can recover in time to play against Birmingham City this Saturday.

Manager Kenny Dalglish is hoping to call upon the experienced Carragher and the talismanic Carroll in the absence of stars Steven Gerrard and Daniel Agger.

Carragher was knocked unconscious during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal, while Carroll was substituted during the same game after jarring his knee.

Stalwart Carragher has made good progress but it is not clear whether he will be allowed to feature against Blues, while striker Carroll has not been pushed in training.

Dalglish is also proud of how youngsters John Flanagan and Jack Robinson have progressed after being given the chance because of the lengthening casualty list.

“We’ll have to wait and see on Carra and Andy before the weekend, but it’s only Thursday morning before we’ve even trained, so we’ve not got anything conclusive about either,” Dalglish said.

“We’re delighted with what they’ve done and the fact it’s been against Man City and Arsenal speaks volumes for them and the way they’ve been brought up.

“We just hope it continues, but at the same time we’re not going to get carried away and we’re not going to destroy the boys.

“We’ve got to be conscious of the fact they are only kids and we’ve got to know, and look for, any wee signs maybe it’s a proper time to give them a rest if they need it.

“We’ve got to look after them and be consistent. We’ve got to keep our feet on the ground.”

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25. Kevin Phillips (Birmingham City)

24. Ryan Nelsen (Blackburn Rovers)

23. Tim Howard (Everton)

22.Jussi Jääskeläinen (Bolton)

21. Patrick Vieira (Man City)

20. Mark Schwarzer (Fulham)

19. Sylvain Distin (Everton)

18.Stephen Carr (Birmingham City)

17. Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City/Man City)

16. Shay Given (Man City)

15. Michael Owen.(Man United)

14. Stiliyan Petrov (Aston Villa)

13. Phil Neville (Everton)

12. Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

11. Tim Cahill (Everton)

10. Rio Ferdinand (Man United)

9. Brad Friedel (Aston Villa)

8. Paul Scholes (Man United)

7. Edwin van der Sar (Man United)

6. Danny Murphy (Fulham)

5. Kevin Davies (Bolton)

4. Nicolas Anelka (Chelsea)

3. Didier Drogba (Chelsea)

2. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

1. Ryan Giggs (Man United)

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Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is not worried who Champions League rivals Manchester City will buy in the summer.

The 33-year-old will face the oil-rich blue half of Manchester tonight knowing three points is essential if they are to keep their Europa League hopes alive.

City spent £125million on players like David Silva and Yaya Toure last summer, following that up by spending £27million on Edin Dzeko in January.

But Carragher, while predicting more City arrivals at the end of the season, insists it will not affect his team in the slightest.

“Obviously they have raised the standard for Champions League qualification with the players they have brought in,” Carragher said.

“I am sure it won’t stop as there will be more coming in the summer – but that is up to them.

“We only play Man City twice in a season so whatever they do is up to them.

“In the games we play against them we have to do well this season, next season and in the years to come because they will prove a difficult team to stop if they carry on spending that type of money.

“But we only play them twice and it is what we do, we will look after what we do at this club.”

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