Jamie Carragher says farewell to football in front of The Kop today before clocking in for a new life as one of the growing army of TV pundits.

One that includes self-confessed Manchester United aficionado Gary Neville, who has established himself as one of Sky's leading voices in his first season after bringing down the curtain on his own playing career.

Now you could sell tickets in anticipation of Carragher and Neville going head-to-head when Liverpool and United renew their hostilities.

Instead of meaty aggression on the pitch it will be verbals flying - and Carragher is looking forward to it.

"I'm sure I will take advice from him. He's been really good on the TV, hasn't he?" said Carragher, 35.

"I'm sure I'll need a few tips to start with. There's that bubble with Liverpool and so hopefully I'll now be able to offer different experiences.

"I enjoyed the European Championships with Roy Keane last summer - just something different, a different voice and way of looking at things.

"I think when you stop playing you do put the rivalry to one side. You have been through the thing where you are fighting for your club from day one to when you finish. As soon as you finish you stay a supporter of your club, of course, but that competitive edge of going up against people and that aggression, fight to win - it might all kick off again, who knows?"

His views will be sought in an era far different to the one which welcomed him as a young player.

All the managers who won the major prizes last season have been sacked - Roberto Mancini (Premier League), Roberto Di Matteo (Champions League and FA Cup) and Kenny Dalglish (League Cup).

Carragher acknowledged: "It's just going through how it was in the Italian and Spanish leagues 10 years ago. We used to laugh and think 'they are mad'. It's just the way the game has gone now.

"But it's not just football, it's life, with the phone, the internet. Everything is just 'now'. No one wants to wait for anything.

"The managers know that before they take the jobs, so it's not like it comes as a shock. They might be disappointed to lose their job - it's a merry-go-round, isn't it? All those who have lost their jobs will be in one next season.

"I think it's sad what is happening now. Who likes to see managers losing their jobs? But that's the way it is now.

"You have got foreign owners coming in as well and they see things differently. Managers know the game we're in now.

"You look at the Mancini situation. But Mark Hughes lost his job, didn't he, when Mancini came in? I think managers know, and when they get sacked they get a decent pay-off so it's not the end of the world, is it?"

Carragher won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, two FA Cups and three League Cups during his 23 years at Liverpool after joining as a 12-year-old in the youth ranks.

He also won 38 England caps, but insists there is no going back on his decision to quit playing, at the age of 35, after today's game with QPR.

He also has a swift answer for those who believe his football nous would be better served as a coach or manager.

"I've never been offered a manager's job," he revealed.

"No one has come to me and said 'do you want to be the manager of this team, coach here or do this?' It was around Christmas time and I was getting a few offers with the TV stuff. I knew I was retiring and they were the offers on the table, so I went for it.

"To become a manager there's got to be a job, you can't invent something. Brendan Rodgers is the manager here and he has got his staff around him.

"The Academy and reserves people are really good. So you just can't go 'Jamie Carragher's finishing, he's got to take someone's job'.

"Everything is here in place. Top people are working here. So it's not easy to get a coaching role or manager's job in football."

But Carragher hasn't ruled out a change of heart in the future. He admitted: "I may really miss the game and the buzz of winning and losing, I don't know yet. I'll find out in the next year or two, I suppose."

It will be an emotional afternoon both for Carragher and the Liverpool fans, who have looked upon the defender and England skipper Steven Gerrard as the heartbeat of the club.

Modest to the end, Carragher has the perfect put-down when asked whether he had ever been close to leaving Anfield.

"No, never," he said. "I don't know whether it was a good or a bad thing. Maybe no one rates me. I've never been close to leaving. My agent has never rung me up and said 'this team fancy buying you'. Not once."

Tonight it's party time, with Carragher adding: "What do they say on Shameless? 'Let's have a party,' as Frank Gallagher says.

"We will just go for a couple of drinks, a nice meal, something like that. It's done then, I won't have to worry about my weight. I can enjoy myself."

Source: Sunday Express