• Premier League

Liverpool 'enjoying' football again - Johnson

Glen Johnson says he wants to stay at Liverpool © Getty Images

Enlarge

Glen Johnson admits manager Brendan Rodgers has restored the fun factor in the Liverpool side, and admits he wants to stay at the club as his contract has 14 months left to run.

Johnson will feature for Liverpool on Sunday against Manchester City in what is being labelled a title decider, with Liverpool top of the Premier League and four points ahead of third-placed City, although City have two games in hand.

But the right-back has revealed that Rodgers deserves credit for the way he has got his side playing this season.

"He's just got the players enjoying our football again," Johnson said. "We have had some great players at this club over the years. You can see it yourselves that we always play from the back, we can play our way out of almost every situation. Maybe before it would have been more nervy and we would have tried to get it up front quicker."

Johnson is hopeful that his Liverpool future will be sorted out in the summer after hearing that Rodgers wants him to stay.

He has 14 months left to run on his Anfield contract, and has yet to be offered a new deal.

Rodgers said last month that he wanted to keep the defender, and that he would be offered the chance to discuss a new contract in the summer.

But Johnson, signed for £17.5 million from Portsmouth in 2009, would have to take a cut in his reported £110,000-a-week salary in order to get a new deal.

Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's Boston-based owners, have previously been unwilling to increase the salaries of players once they reach 30. Johnson will celebrate his 30th birthday in August, and his age is likely to be a factor in negotiations.

"At the moment, it is not for me to really worry about," Johnson added.

"I have 14 months left and I have not heard anything different. The most important thing is concentrating on the league and getting to the summer. I am sure then the talks will begin."

Johnson's immediate focus is on the match against City, as Liverpool seek a victory to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.

The defender, though, is encouraged by the signals coming from Rodgers regarding his future.

"Things can change quickly in football, but to have the manager's belief and backing and for him to tell the public and the owners that he wants to keep me is fantastic. Obviously, I would love to stay as well," he added.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd