• Premier League

This could be my one shot at title glory, says Gerrard

Steven Gerrard believes Brendan Rodgers can become one of the best managers in the world © Getty Images

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Steven Gerrard stated he is not taking anything for granted as Liverpool edge closer to a league title since 1990, but admitted he almost gave up on lifting the Premier League with his boyhood club.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, Gerrard revealed he was treating this season like his "one shot" to claim a Premier League winners' medal.

Several of his team-mates have indicated a willingness to win the title for Gerrard and, with Chelsea slipping up against Sunderland on Saturday, Liverpool now sit in a commanding position at the top of the league.

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"For us to have not won the league since 1990 is not good enough. A club with this history should have got an awful lot closer - if not actually done it - during those 24 years," Gerrard said.

"There have been times when maybe I have given up on it - or been close to giving up on it. When you are finishing seventh or eighth and you see the gap to the top sides, it's mentally tough. And then, come the end of the season you see the big hitters spending all kinds of money and making their squads even stronger.

"I've got to treat this like it's the one shot. Just because this league is so strong and there are no guarantees next year."

Gerrard has enjoyed a sparkling campaign playing under Brendan Rodgers, the manager who recently hailed his captain as the best deep-lying midfielder in Europe.

The 33-year-old leads the nominations for the PFA Player of the Year award, along with team-mates Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez, while Zinedine Zidane recently admitted Gerrard deserves to win the Premier League for his loyalty to the Anfield club.

Gerrard, though, paid special thanks to Rodgers and stated he is the one to lead Liverpool to great success.

"When Brendan came in I got a real feeling from him in our first conversation that I had," Gerrard said. "Not because we was telling me personally what he wanted from me but because I liked his vision for the club.

"I totally believe in this manager and his plans. I totally believe. I bought into that from the first conversation.

"He's a phenomenal man for his age [41]. I think he's going to grow into one of the world's best managers and I hope he is here long after I am gone. I hope he is here for many, many years because this club is in great hands. Whatever happens now until the end of the season, it's safe."

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