Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers plans to offer defender Jamie Carragher a new contract ahead of the expiry of his current deal at the end of the season.

The former England international has hinted that he may retire in the summer but Rodgers believes the 34-year-old has more to offer despite struggling to displace Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel from the first team.

Carragher has played nine matches in the Premier League this season but eight of those appearances have come as a substitute.

“He and I have had loose discussions in terms of where he is at,” Rodgers told reporters. “We spoke before Christmas and decided we’d have a chat after Christmas.

“We had a busy period coming up but there is no doubt I want him to stay as a player because he still has a lot to offer.”

Carragher made his debut for Liverpool in 1996 and has gone on to make 719 appearances for his boyhood club, but Rodgers believes he is still in good enough condition to play in the top flight.

“It is different for defenders as well,” he continued. “The older you get, you are in that firing line at the back and there is no hiding place.

“He has been a pivotal player, a real iconic player for the club – he is still in great condition, he looks after himself.

“He turns out every single day and I’m sure there are days that are difficult for him as a player when you don’t play.

“But he is a wonderful example to any player, absolutely incredible. And he has still got a few years left in him yet, for sure.”

Mansfield Town will honour the victims of the Hillsborough disaster when they face Liverpool in Sunday’s FA Cup third round tie at the One Call Stadium.

The game is expected to be a sell-out, but the club have elected to pay tribute to those who were killed by putting the names of the 96 who lost their lives on a section of empty seats separating the home and away fans.

“We wanted to do something in light of what has happened this year in terms of Hillsborough and as it’s been so long since the two sides met,” operations director Paul Broughton told Mansfield’s official website.

“One of our fans suggested we place a name on each of the empty seats in the segregation section of the stadium. The idea sent shivers down my spine. It was an amazing idea.”

“I felt moved when I heard that Mansfield had planned this tribute,” said Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

“To me, it sums up where we are at, in terms of how everyone around the country is starting to realise what we’ve known for a long time about Hillsborough.

“It will be a lovely gesture and I think it’s entirely appropriate for us going forward in our fight for justice. It means a great deal and I would like to thank Mansfield on behalf of the HFSG for what will be a beautiful gesture.”

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has expressed concern that his squad does not have the depth to compete on three fronts as they prepare to face Mansfield in the FA Cup.

The Reds take on the non-league side in Sunday’s third round tie, but with the Premier League and Europa League also on the agenda, the former Swansea boss believes his squad will be stretched.
“It’s going to be extremely difficult and it’s always been a concern but we know that as a club and we know where we are going to be at this year,” Rodgers told reporters.

“The depth of our squad is nowhere near [big enough] in order to compete on all fronts.

“But we’re Liverpool and you have to go out there and give your all and that’s what we aim to do.

“We’ve had one transfer window and that was where we had to lose a number of players in the summer.”

The 39-year-old also dismissed concerns about the state of the pitch at Field Mill, following reports that it was boggy and may hamper the Anfield side’s style of play.

“You don’t worry too much about the pitch,” he added.

“You play to get the result in whichever style you need to play and we’ll take it as it comes.”