Jamie Carragher has explained that he is happy at Liverpool despite the decline in his playing time at Anfield this season under Brendan Rodgers.

The 34-year-old was speaking following Liverpool’s clash with Chelsea that saw Luis Suarez’s header cancel out Chelsea’s first-half opener to send the Reds back to Merseyside with a 1-1 draw, a game that saw Carragher make his first Premier League appearance of the season.

“We all want to play but I understand the stage of my career that I am at now,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

“There’s always new players coming in. We’re a top club that lots of players want to play for, so we’ve got lots of internationals there. I would never cause a problem here, I’m delighted just to be involved and if the manager needs me I’ll be ready.”

The long-serving centre-back went to admit that he had initially struggled with the pace of the game at Stamford Bridge and particularly Chelsea’s quicksilver attacking outlets.

“The Premier League is a step up,” he added.

“The Capital One Cup games, the Europa League games are not high-paced and don’t have the intensity of the Premier League. Also it was Chelsea and Chelsea is a difficult place to come.

“Whether I play or not I’ll always be ready for the lads and for the manager if he wants to put me in certain games. Like every player I want to play, but it’s all down to the manager, he’s the boss.”

Carragher also praised his side’s battling qualities after weathering a first-half storm from the hosts to hit back through Suarez’s equaliser.

“I think in the first half Chelsea were obviously on top,” said the 34-year-old.

“I think in the second half we came out and, great credit to the lads, it’s a big place to come, they’re flying high at the moment Chelsea, and I think we probably deserved a draw in the end. We battled away in the second-half.”

Fellow defender Jose Enrique went on to hail the talents of Liverpool’s talisman Suarez, who took his tally to 11 goals so far this season in all competition.

“He’s amazing player with his movement,” Enrique said.

“He’s a really clever player and of course he’s the key player for us. He’s amazing player for us.”