Carra's perfect day

A referee giving the thumbs up to the away section, a penalty scored by a Red for the Blues and a Manchester United striker who ended up having his every touch applauded.

This, clearly, was no ordinary Merseyside derby but, then again, the reason this latest good-natured tussle between Liverpool and Everton took place was to pay tribute to a player whose career at Anfield has been anything but ordinary.

Jamie Carragher's place in Liverpool legend has long since been secured but, on Saturday, it was heartening to see a crowd of 35,682 turn up to watch the city's two top-flight teams lock horns in his richly-deserved testimonial.

Though there was a time in the past when Carragher's qualities were overlooked by those on the Kop, the ovation he received after he fulfilled the schoolboy dream of firing in a penalty for Everton - and again when taking a bow after the final whistle - shows the esteem in which he is now held.

With every penny raised from the game and subsequent gala dinner going to charities in the area via his 23 Foundation, it was a day for all Reds to indulge in nostalgia.

Yes, many will have smiled at the fact Liverpool ran out 4-1 victors - thus correcting the quirky anomaly of them having failed in four previous attempts to win a Merseyside derby testimonial - but, really, the outcome was inconsequential.

"It wasn't just about me, it was for the people of Liverpool and what we are trying to achieve," said Carragher. "That was what it was about and I am glad everyone got involved and enjoyed the day - and I am glad it went well."

It was never going to go anything other than well once Liverpool scored with the first attack of the game after 83 seconds; Luis Garcia was always a man to rely on in the big occasions and he showed that he still has that happy knack.

A break involving Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole ended up reaching the feet of Emile Heskey and he cushioned a perfectly weighted pass into Garcia, who cut on to his favoured left side before curling an unstoppable shot beyond Iain Turner from 20 yards into the top corner of the Anfield Road net.

There was a delicious irony to it all; Garcia used to be on the receiving end of some frightful ear-bashings from Carragher when he was playing for real.

Equally, though, Carragher recognised that Garcia did as much as anyone to help him claim that Champions League winners' medal in 2005.

Sentiments which also apply to Michael Owen. Some will have feared prior to his return that his allegiance to Manchester United would cast a shadow over the day, he only had to contend with some pantomime booing.

By the end of his 45-minute cameo, many had taken to clapping each time he received possession and while, sadly, it is unlikely he will ever enjoy the kind of reception his goals and achievements should guarantee, it would be wrong to forget the good times Owen provided.

Mind you, he almost caused a diplomatic incident when shaping as if he was going to take the first penalty of the afternoon; while Carragher wanted Owen to score, the world and his wife demanded the Reds' number 23 take the honours.

Certain wags claimed Carragher would have been more anxious ahead of that spot kick than he was when he last sat a 12-yard test - for England in the 2006 World Cup quarter-finals against Portugal - and there is no doubt he felt some butterflies.

"I was trying to get Michael to score in a Liverpool shirt again," Carragher explained. "But then it dawned on me that I had to take it and I was terrified of missing it. I thought that's all people would remember me for."

There is no chance of that. As someone who has put his body on the line for Liverpool since January 1997, Carragher will be remembered for playing a massive role in an era that saw the club win four European trophies and a similar total domestically.

He will also be remembered for the fact he was a rabid Blue during his youth, so it was no surprise he put through his own net here after Joe Cole had put Liverpool three up with a sweet half-volley.

To say Mark Halsey's award was generous would be a gross understatement - James Vaughan could not stop laughing when he fell over with nobody around him - but it provided Carragher with a chance he was never going to miss.

Unfortunately for him, it will be credited in the record books as another own goal and he can rest assured that nobody in Liverpool's history are ever going to get close to having a double figure tally of putting through their own net. It is some achievement.

On a serious note, however, the statistics that matter also make for incredible reading. By the time he hangs up his boots, Carragher should be clear in second place on Liverpool's all time list of appearances and, who knows? There may even be another medal or two.

But he will never forget the day Merseyside came out in force to acknowledge his efforts. There can be no bigger compliment.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.