Liverpool’s Jamie Carragher scored twice, once for either side, in his testimonial game at Anfield. The Liverpool defender, who has been at the club for the past 14 years, had hoped he could raise one million pounds for his 23 Foundation from the game and a gala dinner, with proceeds going to local groups and charities.
Liverpool team-mates from past and present including Steven Gerrard, Joe Cole, Michael Owen, Luis Garcia, Emile Heskey, Danny Murphy and Jerzy Dudek turned out for Carragher’s big day.
Gerrard, given dispensation by Fabio Capello after featuring in England’s 4-0 victory over Bulgaria on Friday, played the opening 10 minutes before being replaced by Murphy. Manchester United striker Owen was greeted with boos and cheers from the crowd of 35,631 as some fans showed their displeasure at his move to Liverpool’s arch rivals.
Luis Garcia opened the scoring after being set up by Cole, then Carragher scored from the penalty spot after Owen’s shot hit Jose Baxter on the arm. In the second half Cole volleyed in his first goal at Anfield from Ryan Babel’s cross and reserve team striker Nathan Eccleston fired home the fourth. In between Carragher fouled James Vaughan and, in a bizarre bid to score for his childhood team, took Everton’s penalty himself. He shot past Brad Jones, making his first appearance in a Liverpool shirt after signing last month from Middlesbrough, to give Everton their consolation goal.
Carraghers Career:
| Full name | James Lee Duncan Carragher | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 28 January 1978 (1978-01-28) (age 32) | ||
| Place of birth | Bootle, Merseyside, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Senior career | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1996– | Liverpool | 435 | (4) |
| National team | |||
| 1997 | England U20 | 4 | (1) |
| 1996–2000 | England U21 | 27 | (1) |
| 1998–2006 | England B | 3 | (0) |
| 1999–2010 | England | 38 | (0) |
