KENNY DALGLISH believes it is premature to start penning the obituaries for the Liverpool FC careers of stalwarts Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard.

Carragher and Gerrard were absent through injury last Saturday as Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool FC side earned a 2-0 win at West Bromwich Albion.

It was the first time since January that the Anfield outfit began a Premier League game without at least one of the talismanic homegrown duo.

With 33-year-old Carragher facing increased competition for his centre-back spot and 31-year-old Gerrard having been restricted by injury during the calendar year, speculation has started over the long-term futures of the duo.

But Dalglish has reiterated his stance that the pair still very much have a part to play.

“I don’t think anybody can dispute the part they have played in the history of this football club,” said the Liverpool manager. “They have both played massive roles and will continue to be a huge part of this football club.

“Talismanic figures like them are always difficult to replace but that’s part and parcel of this club. People move on, they get old and you have to replace them and try and take it forward.

“It happens to everybody. It’s how you respond to it that’s the important thing.

“But it’s not an obituary for either of them, they both have a bit more to offer here. They still have some legs in them yet. We haven’t reached that part yet.

“They both have a big part to play here and they’ll both play a big part.”

Nevertheless, Dalglish has been impressed with the response of the remainder of his players in the absence of Gerrard and Carragher, which he believes underlines the renewed strength of the squad.