Carra analysis: It's a great role for SG
Providing incisive analysis is nothing new for Jamie Carragher in his post-retirement role as a television pundit, but the challenge of assessing former teammate Steven Gerrard is a simple one.
The two Liverpudlians shared a dressing room at Anfield for a decade-and-a-half, mutually driving the Reds to triumphs in the FA Cup, Champions League and much more with their unerring passion.
As close friends away from football too, few people understand the No.8 better than the man who called time on his career 12 months ago after registering the second-highest number of appearances for the club.
Since January, Gerrard has dropped into a deeper position - controlling and probing from the base of midfield - than the role he was accustomed to when he and Carragher were thriving at European level.
Brendan Rodgers' tactical switch has proved a masterstroke; the skipper reached new levels of influence as Liverpool surged to the top of the Barclays Premier League by winning 11 straight games.
"The instructions Brendan gives him means he almost ends up at centre-half and almost like a sweeper," Carragher deliberated with the Liverpool Echo.
"But Steven Gerrard has been a revelation as a right midfielder, centre midfielder, off the front, at right-back... so it's no big surprise that he is playing well in that position.
"Steven Gerrard is a great player and will play well anywhere. The fact that he has gone into that position has helped the team, because he can see a lot in front of him.
"And as the leader and captain, where he has to give a lot of information, it's a great role for him."
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At the heart of the Reds' remarkable 2013-14 campaign has been the success of Rodgers' subtle alterations in formation - with variants of 4-4-2, 4-3-3 and 3-5-2 all utilised so far this season.
Carragher's final year with the club coincided with the Northern Irishman's first, affording the ex-centre-back an opportunity to examine the manager's unique approach at close quarters.
The 36-year-old continued: "I worked for him for 12 months and he was great with me and this success couldn't happen to a nicer fella.
"He's a great coach and man-manager and the way he flips and changes his side. If you get beat doing that, then people will say you are messing about with the team, but when you win, they say you're a great tactician.
"He gets it right most of the time. He keeps the opposition guessing and at this moment he is one of the best around."