Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher says owners FSG deserve greater credit for the financial commitment they've made.
Redeveloping Anfield as opposed to relocating has proven to be a welcomed decision by the club owners, who also approved the £50million construction of the Reds' AXA Training Centre to replace Melwood. Carragher paid his first visit to Liverpool's new training ground on Friday afternoon and has been taken aback by the facilities available to first-team and Academy stars.
"It was my first time there. I thought it was unbelievable," he told the Liverpool Echo after Saturday's Legends match at Anfield. "Liverpool deserve the best and the players they have deserve the best because they are one of the best teams in the world.
"The facilities there, it is credit to FSG for what they have provided in terms of this main stand I'm looking at right now, what's going on at the Anfield Road end and the new training ground must be as good as anything in European football. I love Melwood, that's where all my memories are from and I would never change that, but it is brilliant what they've got now down at the AXA."
"I was always a big believer in that," continued Carragher on the club's decision to create a combined training environment including both the first team and Academy stars. "When I first started at Melwood, we were all together and the Academy was built. I always thought that separation wasn't great for the club. Who knows how much of a difference it made, but I do think it is nice we are now all on one site. There is all that togetherness and it doesn't feel like such a big thing for a young player to go and train with the first-team or to travel from Kirkby to Melwood. The manager knows the players, they're in the same dining room and gets to know them. I think that certainly helps.
"I don't think any owner gets credit from the supporters, but FSG have done a brilliant job at Liverpool. We're winning things, we've got a way of working that is looked at around the world in terms of how we recruit, I think we've got the best manager in the world, one of the best training grounds and we managed to stay at Anfield and didn't have to move stadium."
