Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers salutes retiring Jamie Carragher

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers admits there is no way that Jamie Carragher will bow out quietly when he plays his final game before retirement against QPR on Sunday.

Carragher, 35, has spent his whole career at Anfield, winning the Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups, and the Merseyside-born star will fittingly bow out as captain for his 737th and last appearance for the Reds.

The former England defender started the season behind Martin Skrtel and Daniel Agger in Rodgers' plans. But in recent months he has played his way back into the team and has finished the season in impressive form.

And Rodgers claims Carragher has been training as hard as ever despite the imminent end to his career.

"He's in the final week of his career, going into the game against QPR at 35 years of age," Rodgers said.

"He knows he's retiring, but after training on Thursday he was still in the gymnasium, preparing himself with the same commitment that he has shown his entire career.

"He could have had a lazy day. He could have had a bit of lunch and then shot home, but he was in the gym preparing his body and doing his core work, his flexibility and preparing himself to the maximum to be his best.

"And that says it all about him; that at the end of his career, he is still preparing as if it was his first game.

"He knows the intensity and the passion and the quality that is needed because he has been there."

Luis Suarez is suspended and defenders Martin Skrtel, Daniel Agger and Martin Kelly are all set to miss out through illness and injury, while Raheem Sterling, Joe Allen and captain Steven Gerrard are also absent.

The Reds have lost just once in their last 12 matches and Rodgers is confident he will be able to make greater strides next term with several signings likely in the close-season.

The January arrivals of Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho have already made a major difference and Rodgers, whose team are certain to finish seventh, is optimistic about closing the gap at the top of the table.

"Ultimately we want to be challenging for trophies and being consistent at the top of the league," he said.

"This season was always going to be the season for building our base in order to achieve those objectives. As the season has gone on, we've become better.

"The scouts are leaving no stone unturned in terms of the work they are carrying out in order to get us the players we need to improve."

Meanwhile, QPR's trip to Anfield will draw a line under a disastrous campaign for the west Londoners, with relegation to the Championship inevitable long before it was finally confirmed.

Boss Harry Redknapp has already committed himself to the club and is hoping to stage a major overhaul of the squad before their promotion bid begins in August.

"We need to change things here to give ourselves a chance of trying to mount a challenge for next season because it won't be easy," he said.

"We need a group who will be good enough to compete at the top of the Championship. We certainly weren't good enough to compete in the Premier League.

"I'd like the changes to be extensive because the club needs changing. The team that's here hasn't been good enough and would struggle to get out of the Championship next season.

"I'm confident we can mount a challenge next season, but it won't be easy. The Championship is full of big clubs - clubs bigger than QPR, like Leeds United."

French striker Loic Remy is available for selection despite being arrested on suspicion of rape earlier in the week.

A QPR spokesperson said: "The club can confirm he's training and will be available for selection."