It may have been a song Liverpool supporters have sung for years, but now even manager Rafa Benitez has admitted he “dreams of a team of Carragher’s”.

Speaking about the youth set-up and his hopes for the future - ahead of Monday’s FA Youth Cup Final first leg with Manchester United - Rafa said:

“It is normal at top clubs for it to be more difficult for youngsters to get through because of the players that are bought for the senior squad. It was the same when I was at Real Madrid, it is the same with the big clubs in England.

“I have known senior squads at Madrid with 40 players, and of that maybe 14 were from the academy. That is success, that is what means an academy is successful.

“But one each year would be fine. Maybe one Jamie Carragher each year, maybe one Steven Gerrard.

“It could take five years, but you have a diamond to work with. You can then do something if you have the talent, you can see it grow.

“But if I could find one Carra every year, and then you will see in five years maybe five Carras. Think of the money you would save with a team of Carraghers.”

Altogether now…

“We all dream of a team of Carragher’s,
a team of Carragher’s,
a team of Carragher’s,
and number one is Carragher…”