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Steven Gerrard admits it will be “strange” to begin a new Premier League season without Jamie Carragher alongside him in the Liverpool FC team.

And the Reds skipper believes the defender’s replacement at Anfield will have some very big shoes to fill.

Carragher retired at the end of last season after a career spanning 16 years and 737 matches. He will assume a new role, as a television pundit with Sky, for the new campaign.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers moved swiftly to sign the experienced Kolo Toure from Manchester City this summer, and has been linked with a number of other central defenders also.

Gerrard, though, says Carragher will difficult to replace. He said: “Of course, from a selfish point of view I wish he was coming back and doing one more season.

“Hopefully the replacements we get in perform well for us because they are certainly big shoes to fill.

“It will feel strange and it will be different (next season). I’m used to hearing his voice from day one of pre-season.

“But he’s got other things that he needs to focus on; he’s going down the TV avenue and he’s going to be working for Sky, so we all wish him good luck with that.”

Carragher insisted last week that he will not hold back when it comes to offering critical analyses of his former teammate, joking that Gerrard will get “two games’ grace” before his performances will be scrutinised. Gerrard says he will have no problem accepting that – provided he gets the chance to call him up and argue back.

“That’s standard, that’s a gimme,” Gerrard said.

“He needs to show everyone out there that he’s not biased, so I’m sure I’m going to be one of the first names he’s going to attack. That’s fine by me; I’ve still got his phone number, I’m still his friend so I’ve still got a chance to have a go back at him.”