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The Reds vice-captain made his 700th appearance for the Merseyside club on Thursday night but insisted the game was more important for the club's new manager

Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher says the Reds' 1-0 over FC Gomel on Thursday night was huge for new boss Brendan Rodgers.

The club's vice-captain marked his 700th appearance for the Merseyside outfit in the Europa League third qualifying round clash in Belarus.

However, he insisted that more importance should be given to the fact that Rodgers took charge of his first competitive game since taking over from Kenny Dalglish.

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"Every game for Liverpool is a massive game - it doesn't matter where it is - and I'm delighted and proud to have played that many games for the club," he told the club's official website.

"It was a nice night for me on that score, but it was more important because it was the manager's first game. That's more important than me playing 700 games.

"It's a big thing for a manager in his first game, especially playing in Europe. It's a big thing for Liverpool, great tradition, and it's great we got the victory for the manager more than anything.

"As I said, his first game was more important than my 700."

The Bootle-born stopper went on to express his delight with posting victory against a side who are already some way into their domestic season.

He added: "We're pleased with the victory. It was a tough game, as European away games always are. They're in the middle of a season and I think you could see that in the fitness levels - they were much better at times than us.

"With fitness levels, it doesn't matter who you're playing against, whatever level it is, if they're half-way through their season it's going to be tough.

"Some of our lads were playing their first game. It was the first time I've played 90 minutes and it was the same for a few of us. It was a very tough game and you'd probably say they had the better of the game, to be fair.

"But that's what playing in Europe is about, getting the win and a vital away goal puts us in a strong position. We're delighted to come away with the victory."

The 34-year-old vice-captain also took time to thank the supporters who travelled to Gomel to cheer the Reds on to victory.

He said: "My dad normally comes [to games], but even he said it'd be a nightmare trying to get here and never made it.

"All credit to the lads and supporters who made it here. Going back will be tough as well, but there will be a few stories to tell, I'm sure!"