Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has paid tribute to manager Brendan Rodgers and the football his team is now playing.

Carragher wrote in the Daily Mail: "Not everything worked for him straight away, either. His first two signings, Joe Allen at £15million and £11m Fabio Borini did not make the expected impact.

"I was also a little sceptical about the style which he wanted the team to play: centre-backs splitting, both full-backs pushing high up and the keeper comes out to operate like a sweeper - just as Barcelona do.

"Liverpool have always played good, intelligent football but this was taking it to another level. I felt it was risky. Three games into the season, we faced Arsenal at Anfield and they took full advantage, beating us 2-0. With that style, I didn't see how we would ever grind out a result. But to Brendan's credit, he and the team have evolved over the last year while remaining true to his principles.

"Plenty of judges are good at saying in this country how we should play football on the floor and give young players a chance, yet when they get jobs, they don't do anything about it. You couldn't level that criticism at Rodgers.

"He wants his teams to inflict 'death by football' but this year Liverpool have shown another side to their character. They are now flattening the teams they should do but they are just as adept at toughing it out."