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Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool's youngsters to take tips on defending from Jamie Carragher.

The former Reds and England skipper is in his first season with the club's Under-18 side.

Like Jurgen Klopp's senior side, the young Reds have scored goals for fun but have also been leaking them at the other end.

And Gerrard has used former teammate Carragher as an example for his young teammates to base their game on.

“We are trying as a team to improve defensively but what it boils down to is you’ve got to want to defend," he said.

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(Image: EMPICS Sport) (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

"You’ve got to take an elbow in the face, get a bloody nose or take a shot in the privates!

“I played with Jamie Carragher, who wasn’t known for 40-yard passes or dribbling out from the back; he was known for blocks, he was known for organising and pulling people into positions and defending.

“He was a constant noise in your ear for 90 minutes and that’s how you defend at the top level.

(Image: John Powell)

"Defending hurts. It hurts your body and it’s tough, but these kids have come out of schoolboy football and they are in a man’s game now, which is tough.

"We are trying to toughen them up individually and get them to put their bodies on the line."

Gerrard's youngsters take on Everton in the mini-derby on Friday night.