Liverpool Must Replace Jamie Carragher with Quality to Compete Atop the EPL

The definitive one-club man, it is a shame for Brendan Rodgers and Liverpool that Jamie Carragher is retiring at the end of this season.

What the 18-time English league champions' supporters wouldn't give for Carragher to be 10 years younger. Alas, with his retirement date announced for this summer, Liverpool must now do without their vice-captain, the most vocal member of their dressing room and leader of their back four.

Which brings me to a word of advice for Brendan Rodgers: Nothing but a top-class replacement will suffice, if they have any desire to challenge at the top of the Premier League in the near future.

Heading into 2012/13, the Reds looked to have a centre-half pairing of high quality in the form of Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel. It looked a more than solid partnership, the two having qualities which, on paper at least, appear complementary.

Nonetheless, as the season has progressed, Slovakian international defender Skrtel has regressed. Where he had once appeared tough and dominant, capable of physically inflicting his will on even the most bullish of strikers, the present campaign has seen him become somewhat mistake-ridden, to the extent he has been replaced by Carragher in the past few months and been unable to work his way back into Rodgers' starting 11.

In essence, Carragher has made himself indispensable.

The current campaign has been one of transition for Liverpool as Rodgers has looked to put his stamp on the club, and it hasn't been without its bumps. But for the brilliance of Luis Suarez, the first half of the season could have been particularly nasty, with the Reds taking a mere 19 points from their opening 15 matches.

However, the second half of the campaign has been a cause for optimism: Philippe Coutinho's performances since his arrival from Inter Milan have left fans wanting more, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing have been much improved, Suarez continues to show his class, and the overall quality on show week-in week-out has shown great promise for the future of the Rodgers era.

Perhaps Daniel Sturridge hasn't been the fit many hoped for, but he's young and time remains on his side.

Which brings us back to Carragher. With his time set to come to an end, Rodgers needs to reinforce his defence if his quest to restore Liverpool to the pinnacle of English football is to pick up steam this summer.

Clearly he doesn't believe Skrtel is the answer, whilst Uruguayan Sebastian Coates has hardly had a look-in all season. Martin Kelly, the England under-21 international, also continues to struggle with injuries.

As such, a gaping hole at the heart of the Reds defence needs filling alongside Agger. If the Dane is the modern day Alan Hansen, the club needs to look for his Mark Lawrenson.

Moves for the likes of Swansea skipper Ashley Williams (via The Mirror), Lyon's Dejan Lovren (via Daily Mail) and Belgium international Toby Alderweireld (via The Express) have all been reported.

Williams has worked with Rodgers before, at the League Cup-winning Swans, whereas the other two have greater top-level experience, particularly with regards European football. But of course, there is no definitive right answer as to who Rodgers should place in his faith and, indeed, Liverpool's finances.

All that is known is that he must fill what will be a considerable void, left by a bona fide club legend with over 700 appearances.

Furthermore, Rodgers absolutely must plug the aforementioned hole with a top-level centre-back, if he's to ensure Liverpool can get anywhere back near being looked upon as genuine title contenders.