Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has admitted that Jamie Carragher's retirement has left the club with a huge task of replacing the defender.
Carragher retired on the final day of last season after 17 years in the first team at Anfield and Gerrard has said that his absence will difficult to adjust to next season.
"Hopefully the replacements we get in perform well for us because they are certainly big shoes to fill," Gerrard told the club's official website.
"Of course, from a selfish point of view I wish he was coming back and doing one more season. It will feel strange and it will be different. I'm used to hearing his voice from day one of pre-season."
The midfielder also admitted that he will have to take some criticism from his friend next season when Carragher begins his duties as an analyst for Sky Sports.
Gerrard added: "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."
Liverpool begin their Premier League campaign at home to Stoke City.
Paul Gorst
