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When Jamie Carragher arrived at the Shankly Hotel to see his portrait unveiled, he probably did not expect to see himself portrayed as a gladiator and surrounded by aliens.

The painting, which will take “pride of place” in Carragher’s self-titled New York bar, features the Liverpool FC legend as a gladiator with a sword, shield and bloodied face in a hippodrome.

Hundreds of strange green creatures in red-and-white scarves look on from the stands, with banners carrying his name, number and club.

The giant mural also includes tip of the Liver Building in the distance, and three pacing jaguars next to him - to make up the rest of his ‘back four’.

There is also a yellow sun locked behind bars - a subtle dig at The S*n newspaper.

Carragher was on hand to witness the unveiling of the painting, by Toxteth artist Alan Murray, this morning at the Shankly Hotel.

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He said: “Well it wasn’t a normal picture - put it that way. It was absolutely fantastic.

“He does some quirky things, does Alan. You can see some of the pictures he’s got in the Shankly Hotel - the one of Bill Shankly by the lifts.

“I hope people think it’s as good. I’m absolutely delighted with it.

“The picture’s going to go over to New York, and it will take pride of place over there.”

The painting was commissioned for Carragher’s Times Square restaurant-bar after his co-owner, Brian McLaughlin, fell in love with a Bill Shankly mural in the same style at the Shankly Hotel.”

The artwork will be on display in the reception area of the Liverpool hotel on Victoria Street until Sunday morning so fans can see it ahead of Liverpool FC’s first home game of the season against Leicester.

Carragher also spoke of his excitement of seeing the new Main Stand at Anfield.

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The Sky Sports pundit added: “I had a little drive past and you couldn’t get down Anfield Road - so I went down Walton Breck Road and you can see it there.

“It looks brilliant. I look forward to going to the official opening with some of the ex-players and then sitting with my season ticket on the top level on Saturday.”