• Premier League

Liverpool to open Gerrard contract talks

ESPN staff
March 31, 2013
Steven Gerrard has enjoyed an influential season for Liverpool © PA Photos
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Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to begin talks to extend his career at Anfield, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed.

Gerrard, 32, has spent his entire career with the Reds and has always indicated he would like to stay with the club for the remainder of his career. But Liverpool have not yet opened negotiations over an extension to the England skipper's deal, which expires at the end of next season.

Rodgers has revealed he will have an informal discussion with Gerrard in the coming weeks before a new offer is made.

"Steven has a year left and that is something he and I are about to discuss," Rodgers said. "Then, I will take things through to the board upstairs.

"There is no doubt that Steven is a player who has given so much to the club, but he has also got a lot more to give. It just emphasises how selfless Steven is that he hasn't wanted to talk about a contract because his focus has been on the team and improving his own game.

"But, obviously, I want him to know that he is very much a part of what we are doing here and a new contract is something we will look at between now and the summer."

Rodgers' glowing praise of Gerrard led him to compare the midfielder with Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs who is set to play beyond his 40th birthday next season.

"Ryan Giggs says players can carry on longer now but it's not by accident," Rodgers said. "Steven is definitely in that category, purely because of his professionalism.

"Players who play beyond the age where you might expect them to be thinking of packing it in are those that have looked after themselves since they were 19 or 20."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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