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Jamie Carragher admits Sami Hyypia's departure from Liverpool will take some getting used to.Earlier this week, the Finnish defender agreed to join Bayern Leverkusen on a two-year deal when his Reds contract expires at the end of the season. His defensive compatriot Carragher concedes it will be strange not having Hyypia around Melwood anymore. "It will be strange because although you come back to pre-season every year knowing that you will probably see one or two new faces and a couple will have left you just expect to see Sami there," said Carragher. "He's usually at the front when we're running because he's such a good trainer and such a good professional so it will take some getting used to. "I suppose in a way we've all known that this day wouldn't be too far off because Sami hasn't been playing as much as he would like and he still feels that he has a lot to offer in terms of playing regular first team football. "But it still hit me when I heard that he will be leaving in the summer because, like I said, he's just someone who you always expect to be around." Carragher and Hyypia have played over 150 games together in the centre of Liverpool's defence over the years and the Reds vice-captain believes his teammate is up there with the very best centre-backs to have played for the club. "I don't think you could use any other word for Sami other than legend," he said. "If you look at the standard of his performances ever since he first came to the club, his level of consistency and his performances then you'd have to say he is up there with the very best centre backs we've ever had. "The names that spring to mind straight away are the likes of Ron Yeats, Alan Hansen, Emlyn Hughes and Mark Lawrenson and for me Sami is up there with them. "And when you take into account his transfer fee you'd have to say that pound for pound he is one of the club's greatest ever signings." "I've always said the fact that Sami plays in defence has meant that he hasn't always been given the credit he deserves," continued Carragher. "The likes of Zola, Henry and Bergkamp spring to mind straight away and quite rightly so because everyone knows how good they were when they played in this country. "But for me Sami has to be mentioned alongside them because he has performed so well at the top level for such a long time. "He is definitely one of the best foreign players the Premier League has seen and he is arguably Liverpool's best ever foreign signing, although I'm sure Fernando Torres will make a claim for that title in the years to come." While Hyypia pinpoints Istanbul as his greatest European night in a Liverpool jersey, Carragher offers an interesting alternative. "It's not easy because Sami's been so consistent over the years," pondered our number 23. "I think if I was pressed to choose one game though it would be the second leg of the UEFA Cup semi-final against Barcelona in 2001. "Rivaldo was Barcelona's big threat back then and he was rightly regarded as one of the best in the world so we knew we would have to play well to be able to deal with him. "Sami was outstanding. For me that was the time when he was probably at his very best and I can remember him making one really big tackle on Rivaldo and that pretty much summed up his whole performance. "When you look back at that season Sami was probably one of the big driving forces behind us winning the treble. "Istanbul is obviously another highlight though and I suppose it's a bit sad that when Sami goes there will only be two or three of us left at the club who were involved that night. "That's football though and it just goes to show how quickly squads and teams change these days." Carragher is confident Hyypia's move to Bayer Leverkusen will prove to be a big success for the 35-year-old. He said: "I'm not just saying this because he's my mate but I'm convinced that Sami will go to Germany and establish himself as one of the best defenders in their league. "That's just the way he is. He's been a great example to me and to everyone else at Liverpool and you can't help but admire his professionalism. "I know the manager has said he is welcome to come back here to join the backroom staff and that shows just how highly regarded he is. "He has been part of the furniture here and it will be a bit strange when he's gone."
