Nice piece. As a sidebar, is it any surprise, the fella with the self portrait doesn't know how to use the word "Humility".. 🙄
Brendan Rodgers wants 'brilliant' Steven Gerrard to stay at Liverpool
• Manager can see Gerrard playing until he is 37
• Liverpool captain is still 'super-fit' at age of 32
Steven Gerrard can play on for another three to five years, says his Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers is determined to keep Steven Gerrard at Liverpool for the rest of the midfielder's career as he believes the club's captain can remain one of Europe's top players for another five years.
Rodgers refused to disclose whether talks have started with Gerrard about a new contract to take the 32-year-old beyond the end of next season, stating it is "private between Steven, I and the club". The manager has, however, made it clear he wants Gerrard to stay at Anfield.
"He's 32 years and super-fit at the moment," Rodgers said. "He's played every minute of every [Premier League] game. We've worked very hard on his individual plan to make him as fit as he possibly can be, and the rest has been down to him really.
"It's about his responsibility on the field, how he manages himself off it. He's been first class, and as a captain he's been brilliant this year.
"So he's 32 – 33 in May – and I still see another three to five years left in him yet as long as everything holds up with his body, which this year has been nigh-on perfect. So that [a new contract] is something we will sort out in due course."
Rodgers has no doubts he can envisage Gerrard playing at the highest level through to the age of 37 or 38. "Why not?" he said. "He's a brilliant professional.
"Look at the likes of [Javier] Zanetti at Inter Milan [aged 39] and [Andrea] Pirlo [aged 33] who are still talked about as top European players. Steven currently is that at the moment, and I can see him being that for the next number of years.
"As I've said, he's had a fantastic season this season up until now and he wants to finish it strongly. His priority is always Liverpool, which is real humbleness from the guy. He is more worried about the football club than himself. I, as a manager, want to make sure he stays here because he's very, very important for what I want to do."
Rodgers must first try to clinch a European place for next season, with no guarantees as Liverpool are seventh in the Premier League. They are five points behind Arsenal, whose fifth place would guarantee a Europa League slot, and seven adrift of Chelsea, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League position.
Brendan Rodgers wants 'brilliant' Steven Gerrard to stay at Liverpool
• Manager can see Gerrard playing until he is 37
• Liverpool captain is still 'super-fit' at age of 32
Steven Gerrard can play on for another three to five years, says his Liverpool manager, Brendan Rodgers. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images
Brendan Rodgers is determined to keep Steven Gerrard at Liverpool for the rest of the midfielder's career as he believes the club's captain can remain one of Europe's top players for another five years.
Rodgers refused to disclose whether talks have started with Gerrard about a new contract to take the 32-year-old beyond the end of next season, stating it is "private between Steven, I and the club". The manager has, however, made it clear he wants Gerrard to stay at Anfield.
"He's 32 years and super-fit at the moment," Rodgers said. "He's played every minute of every [Premier League] game. We've worked very hard on his individual plan to make him as fit as he possibly can be, and the rest has been down to him really.
"It's about his responsibility on the field, how he manages himself off it. He's been first class, and as a captain he's been brilliant this year.
"So he's 32 – 33 in May – and I still see another three to five years left in him yet as long as everything holds up with his body, which this year has been nigh-on perfect. So that [a new contract] is something we will sort out in due course."
Rodgers has no doubts he can envisage Gerrard playing at the highest level through to the age of 37 or 38. "Why not?" he said. "He's a brilliant professional.
"Look at the likes of [Javier] Zanetti at Inter Milan [aged 39] and [Andrea] Pirlo [aged 33] who are still talked about as top European players. Steven currently is that at the moment, and I can see him being that for the next number of years.
"As I've said, he's had a fantastic season this season up until now and he wants to finish it strongly. His priority is always Liverpool, which is real humbleness from the guy. He is more worried about the football club than himself. I, as a manager, want to make sure he stays here because he's very, very important for what I want to do."
Rodgers must first try to clinch a European place for next season, with no guarantees as Liverpool are seventh in the Premier League. They are five points behind Arsenal, whose fifth place would guarantee a Europa League slot, and seven adrift of Chelsea, who occupy the fourth and final Champions League position.
