• Premier League

Gerrard couldn't take lesser Liverpool role, Rodgers reveals

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists the club did all they could to keep Steven Gerrard but the captain could not accept the prospect of a reduced role.

Gerrard, 34, announced on Friday that he is to end a 26-year association with the Anfield club when his contract expires at the end of the season, before Liverpool confirmed on Saturday that he will be moving to a side in the United States.

His former Liverpool and England team-mate and friend Jamie Carragher, who retired in June 2013, responded to the news by suggesting that the club could have done more to keep Gerrard.

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But Rodgers told a news conference: "If you look at Steven's statement, he makes it clear that he certainly knew my feelings about wanting him to be here.

"He's been a brilliant captain for me in my time here, so naturally I wanted him to stay here. His role is slightly different now but he still sees himself wanting to play for a couple more years. Naturally, at this level, that was going to be tapered.

"He wasn't ready to move into coaching yet. He still sees himself very much as a player. When the time comes for him to finish as a player, then that is something we can look at. It would be brilliant for him to be back here as a part of the staff.

"But at the moment, his concentration is on his football. He said that himself. He left here on great terms from me and the owners. Anything else that's said will be wide of the mark."

Rodgers also said that Gerrard was in "turmoil" about leaving the club he joined as an eight-year-old, before going on to make his senior debut in November 1998 at the age of 18.

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"I knew the turmoil he was in over when to leave this club, because his situation is unique," the manager said.

"You see one-club players but there are not too many who live five minutes round the corner. You see players who stay at clubs for long periods, but they're maybe from different parts of the country. This is a guy who is virtually five minutes away.

"Since he was 15 or 16 years of age, he's been making that religious journey here every single day to play for Liverpool. He's a supporter of Liverpool, deep in his heart. He's made that step to go on and represent this fantastic club.

"With the thought processes he had, it was important to give my perspective on it. He's 34 years of age. He's a man. I wanted him to stay and he knew that. But it was about other things in his life.

"He's been making this journey into work for nearly 20 years. I moved away from home when I was 16. I've travelled to different parts of the country and I know the experiences make you a better person and give you greater knowledge. Steven has had that here but he's never had to move away.

"I wanted to give him the respect in order to give him that clear thinking time, knowing that we wanted him to be here, but respecting his decision for the next few years - for him and his family."

Rodgers went on to say that the club now have to think about finding the next Steven Gerrard, adding that they will be looking for another locally produced hero.

He said: "As a football club, you've got to look to find the next ones. There's a lot of great work going on in our academies, with a real focus on the players who are on our doorstep.

"It's easy to look beyond your own doorstep and look abroad. But we're trying to find the talents, and I believe there are many who are in and around the Merseyside area and in and around Liverpool.

"That's the challenge now, looking for the next one. Of course, there's only one Steven Gerrard, but we're looking for the next talent."

Steven Gerrard found taking the decision to leave difficult © Getty Images

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