Jamie Carragher insists he will remain patient despite a lack of starts this season
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (L), Craig Bellamy (C) and Jamie Carragher sit on the bench during their English Premier League soccer match against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England, REUTERS

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher insists he will continue to be respectful of his Anfield teammates currently keeping him out of Kenny Dalglish's starting XI.

The long-serving 33-year-old has cut an increasingly peripheral figure at Liverpool this season and prior to the weekend had not started any of the club's last 11 Premier League games.

Kenny Dalglish has instead persisted with his first choice pairing of Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger, and with Liverpool boasting one of the most resolute defences in the division, with just 18 league goals conceded, the aforementioned Liverpool stalwart has had to contend with a place amongst the substitutes.

The ever modest and equally professional Carragher suggests his current role is merely part of modern football and he will simply bide his time until Liverpool need him.

"The lads are playing pretty well. Of course you want to play and the manager wouldn't expect anything else," The Liverpool legend told Skysports.com.

"The roles have reversed now and you have to show the respect to the manager, the club and the players playing in my position. I appreciate that.

"The club have done a lot for me over the years. I am not going to say anything or cause any trouble just because I am not playing.

"You have got to be professional and wait your chance. When it comes, you have got to do as well as you can."

Carragher admits he revelled in his recent return against Stoke at Anfield, suggesting the feeling of pulling on a Liverpool shirt will never fade even if that experience is becoming less and less frequent as he enters the twilight of his career.

"Of course I enjoyed it, I am no different to anyone else," The Liverpool stalwart continued. "I have been out the side for a while and understandably so; the lads in my position and the whole team have been doing great."

"It was just nice to put on the red shirt and play at Anfield again. It is something I have wanted to do since I was 18 and nothing has changed now I'm nearly 34.

"But the lads have been doing great and I understand the situation."

Elsewhere at Liverpool, the Guardian claim Kenny Dalglish has wrapped up the signing of Sporting Lisbon prodigy João Carlos. The Merseyside club spotted the 19-year-old during the NextGen youth tournament and has been likened to Portuguese compatriot Deco.