Every home match Liverpool FC's official matchday programme ponders the question: 'What does a player's name say about their personality?'

It offers a quirky insight into life on and off the pitch with a whole host of random questions that inspire answers you won't find in your average football interview.

Here Jamie Carragher talks about his hope of becoming a top-class manager when he one day hangs up his boots, meeting Diego Maradona and playing alongside Daniel Ayala.



Every home match Liverpool FC's official matchday programme ponders the question: 'What does a player's name say about their personality?'

It offers a quirky insight into life on and off the pitch with a whole host of random questions that inspire answers you won't find in your average football interview.

Here Jamie Carragher talks about his hope of becoming a top-class manager when he one day hangs up his boots, meeting Diego Maradona and playing alongside Daniel Ayala.

J is for JOKER

Which player makes everyone laugh?

You always have a joker in the dressing room, maybe four or five in years gone by. Some of the lads might say me but I try to be a bit more mature now. At the moment it's probably Pepe Reina. From his first day here he's been like that. He's got a big personality and loves a laugh.

A is for ANNOYING

Who or what annoys you?

Not many things. Those celebrities that appear in the paper every day do try my patience though, people like Jordan maybe.

M is for MANAGER'S OFFICE

Could you ever see yourself in charge of a club other than Liverpool?

It's hard to imagine doing anything else like playing, coaching, managing or scouting for another team. I've been with Liverpool ever since I was a young boy so not being part of this club would be difficult. I'd love to be the boss one day, but to manage here you have to be one of the best around. The days of going straight into management at the very top level have probably gone. You've got to learn the ropes and get some experience. So I'd probably have to go somewhere else to do that. But I'd always want to come back.

I is for IMPRESSIONS

Do you rate Darren Farley's efforts?

I remember seeing him on YouTube and I thought he was brilliant. It's great that a local lad is having some success. Hopefully he'll go on to do very well for himself.

Which impression does he do best?

(Laughs) For me it's Crouchie. I think he's got him spot on.

Speaking of impersonating people, does anyone ever say you look like John Bishop?

I have actually had people ask if I'm him, quite a few times. He's doing great now and I've got to know him pretty well. He's a good lad.

E is for EVENING OUT WITH THE LADS

Any ideas for this year's fancy dress party?

No, not yet. It will be hard to beat Stevie's effort from a few years ago though. He turned up as an old man on a mobility scooter and it was brilliant. The mask he wore with it was perfect too. Somebody wrote to The Echo to complain about it so that shows just how good the costume was.

C is for CROSSING THE LANGUAGE BARRIER

Do some of the foreign lads ever have trouble understanding you?

At the moment Alberto Aquilani says he can just about get Stevie but he finds it impossible to understand me. Hopefully he'll be okay when we're playing, that's the main thing. When he first came here I think Rafa had problems too. We do speak a bit quicker than most people. But it's up to new arrivals to understand us. They're coming to Liverpool and we're not going to change.

A is for A-LIST

Is there anybody you have been star-struck by?

There aren't many. We met Roger Federer during pre-season and that was good because he's one of the greatest tennis players of all time. But I'm not that into my tennis so I wouldn't say I was star-struck. When Diego Maradona came to Melwood everyone was excited so I'd probably say him. He was brilliant at the '86 World Cup, that's something I'll never forget. Rafa and him were having a meeting and everyone was queuing up outside but I just went straight in to the office because I couldn't wait.

R is for RAISING MONEY FOR GOOD CAUSES

Tell us about your charity; The 23 Foundation.

I'm moving towards the end of my career now and have a testimonial arranged for September against Everton. The money from that will go towards setting up The 23 Foundation. It's the number I've had my entire career so that's what we decided to call the charity. Instead of giving away all the proceeds in one go we'll put the cash in the bank and use the interest to help different causes in and around the city. Hopefully we can raise £100,000 per year.

It's obviously good to give something back?

I'm in a position to do something but it's not just about making me feel good, it's about having a positive effect on others.

R is for RIVALS

If you had to pick one opponent to never face again, who would it be?

Hopefully Thierry Henry doesn't come back to the Premier League. He's a brilliant player and always caused me a few problems.

You had to face Michael Owen this season. Did you ever think he would end up at Man United?

No, and I tried to talk him out of it. Seeing him in that shirt just doesn't look right. Sometimes you associate certain players with certain clubs and people always associated Michael with Liverpool. But he's at United now and we'll have to get used to it.

A is for ARBELOA

What did you say to him?

(Laughs) I don't think he could understand me anyway so it didn't really matter what I said. It's something that I regret and I'm sure he does too, but it was more down to me. We made up in the changing rooms afterwards. Those things happen in football, but hopefully not too often.

G is for GOT THE PASSION

How do you ensure players who arrive here have the passion for LFC?

Shout at them! No, I think it's something the lads pick up on when they move here and go out in the city. They meet the fans in restaurants and bars and that gives them an understanding of just what the club means to people. They'll get hugs and kisses when we're winning and probably right-handers when we're not. A lot of the lads have a passion for football anyway; we just try to reinforce that.

H is for HEADBAND

You had to wear a headband at the start of the season due to an injury. Was it a pain to wear?

No, it's wasn't too bad. It's more of a pain to head the ball without it. I don't want to wear it again. Against Villa it came apart and started slipping down my forehead so I chucked it away. But at half-time I forgot to put on a new one so the wound opened up again and I had to get some more stitches.

E is for EGGS

How do you like them?

Scrambled. I have them a couple of times a week before training. They give me plenty of protein.

How much is bacon and eggs on toast at Café Sports Express?

(After some thought) I'll guess £4.50.

Exactly right.

R is for ROOKIE



Did Daniel Ayala impress you during his first team outings at the start of the season?

Definitely, he was only 18 at the time and to come in to the first team at that age isn't easy. Understandably he was a little nervous but I think he did very well against Stoke City where he won everything in the air. He can be very proud of his full debut.

When you were starting out in the Premier League did any opponents try to intimidate you?

Yeah, I remember playing against Chelsea and George Weah turned me around to have a look at the name on the back of my shirt. He obviously didn't know who I was so that was a bit of a comedown for me.

Yeah, this is nice found..