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• Paula Carragher to visit stadium for only second time
• Defender leads Liverpool XI v Everton to mark 14-year career

Jamie Carragher may have played 634 times for Liverpool in his 14-year professional career but the most significant appearance among the gallery of stars present at Anfield for his testimonial tomorrow will be his mother’s.

Paula Carragher has only once before visited the ground, and even then it was very early in his career when the now 32-year-old was still a youth team player. But she will make an exception to watch her son’ as he captains a Liverpool XI against a side from Everton, the club Carragher supported as a boy.

“My mum has only been to Anfield once, when we won the youth cup,” said Carragher. “She’ll be in the directors box for her second outing but football has always been for the boys in our house.

“I am looking forward to enjoying the game. It will be a family day and I’m sure my kids will go on the pitch at some point for a kickabout.”

Carragher has been keen to stress the testimonial, which will raise funds for his 23 Foundation supporting groups and charities in Liverpool, does not signal the end of his career. He does admit it is a time for reflection, though.

“The obvious highlight is Istanbul in 2005,” he said. “But I think my first full league game when I scored against Aston Villa [was significant] because without that who knows what I would have achieved?”

Asked to pick a low point he said: “There have been plenty of those – the more you play the more bad ones you have. I remember losing 3-0 to Everton and having a nightmare, I didn’t sleep for a week afterwards!”

Liverpoolguardian.co.uk

• Midfielder’s four-year deal has buy-out clause of €90m
• Mascherano takes No14 shirt once worn by Thierry Henry

Javier Mascherano has finalised his move from Liverpool to Barcelona after signing a four-year deal, the Spanish champions confirmed this evening.

The 26-year-old midfielder’s contract has a buy-out clause of €90m and he will take the No14 shirt, which was previously worn by Thierry Henry.

“The truth is it’s a dream, it’s a great joy,” Mascherano told Barca TV after a five-hour medical. “It is a great club with great players and I will try to adapt as quickly as I possibly can.”

The Argentina captain and former West Ham midfielder left Anfield after three years on Merseyside.

BarcelonaLiverpoolTransfer windowKaty Murrellsguardian.co.uk

• Chelsea to host Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge
• United travel to Scunthorpe; Liverpool take on Northampton

Tottenham will host their north London neighbours Arsenal in the third round of the Carling Cup after this afternoon’s draw paired them together.

The two clubs last faced each other in the semi-finals of the competition in 2008, with Tottenham emerging victorious, winning a tumultuous second leg 5-1 at White Hart Lane. Then managed by Juande Ramos, they went on to beat Chelsea 2-1 in the final.

Other ties of note include Newcastle United’s trip to Chelsea, while Blackburn Rovers will be looking for revenge for their semi-final defeat to Aston Villa last season when they travel to Villa Park.

Scunthorpe and Northampton Town face daunting games, the former hosting the holders Manchester United, and the latter taking on Liverpool at Anfield.

Carling Cup third round draw

Brentford v Everton

Portsmouth v Leicester

Stoke v Fulham

Chelsea v Newcastle

Aston Villa v Blackburn

Tottenham v Arsenal

Millwall v Ipswich

Wolves v Notts County

Burnley v Bolton

Birmingham v MK Dons

Liverpool v Northampton

Scunthorpe v Man Utd

West Brom v Man City

Sunderland v West Ham

Peterborough v Swansea

Wigan v Preston

Ties to be played week commencing 20 September

Carling CupTottenham HotspurArsenalChelseaNewcastle UnitedAston VillaBlackburn RoversMillwallIpswich TownScunthorpeManchester CityManchester UnitedBirmingham CityMK DonsNorthamptonLiverpoolBrentfordEvertonWolverhampton WanderersNotts CountyBurnleyBolton WanderersWest BromSunderlandWest Ham UnitedPortsmouthLeicester CityPeterboroughSwanseaWigan AthleticPreston North EndJacob Steinbergguardian.co.uk