Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher has reason for cheer after signing a new two-year contract with the club.

The deal coincided with the club's sale as New England Sports Ventures finalised their protracted purchase from detested owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and the 32-year-old former England international is glad both issues have been resolved.

"We've been talking about it for the last couple of weeks but obviously there's been more important business for the club to deal with and rightly so," he said.

"Mine was put to the back of the queue and that was no problem but it's finally sorted now. When Liverpool offer you a contract you sort it out pretty quickly. I'm looking forward to hopefully finishing my career at the club.

"Since the day I made my debut, my dream would have been to finish my career at the club and hopefully now that will be the case."

Meanwhile, manager Roy Hodgson has welcomed the move, claiming the veteran is still one of the best defenders in the Premier League.

He said:"I'm really pleased Jamie has been offered and agreed a new contract. He's part of the heart and soul of this club and is a man who literally would do anything to achieve success for the club and he has proved it over the last ten years or so in the Premier League.

"His contribution on the field has been of the very highest quality. Jamie has been one of the few players in the seven league matches this season who could hold his hand up and say 'I can't do any better, you could never put a lack of result down to my performance'.

"That is something to be proud of."Subscribe to Football FanCast News Headlines by Email