Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has claimed that Jamie Carragher is a vital role model for the young players at the club.

The defender has struggled to find a place in Liverpool's team this year but Rodgers insists that he does have an important part to play at Anfield.

"He's critical," said the Reds manager. "The likes of Andre Wisdom look up so much to guys like Jamie Carragher.

"For them to be on the same field as him, and to learn from his experience and leadership qualities is very, very important.

"Sometimes as a coach, you can coach players, you can talk with them, you can educate them, but when they go out onto the field, if they've got top players around them that can also help them manage the game from the inside."

Carragher is expected to captain the team that will face West Bromwich Albion in the Capital One Cup on Wednesday evening.