Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been offered a new contract but because he is now 34, the midfielder might not play in as many matches as he has done in the past, manager Brendan Rodgers said yesterday.
Rodgers confirmed the offer at a news conference ahead of today’s Premier League match at bottom of the table Leicester City.
“He has been offered a contract here,” Rodgers said, adding that Gerrard was now considering it.
“He has been here for 16 years and he is a man who deserves the utmost respect and should be given the time to consider it.
“It is a big move. The one thing it won’t be about is money. I have spoken to him enough times and at length, and that won’t be the case.
“One thing is clear, I love working with Steven Gerrard. He is the best player that’s ever played in the Premier League and I have enjoyed every single minute of working with him here and I hope that continues.
“Now he is at the stage of his career where it is not so much the number of games he plays now, it’s about the level of the game and I will work with him and look at it.”
Former England skipper Gerrard, who has played nearly 700 games for Liverpool since making his debut 16 years ago last weekend, came on as a late substitute in Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Stoke City.
Rodgers said Gerrard was a still a “world class player” but explained: “No matter how good a player has been once they come towards those final years then as manager you are having to think how you can get the best out of the player.”
Rodgers also strongly denied any suggestion in Sunday newspaper reports there was a rift between him and his captain by saying “No, 150 per cent, no.
“To read yesterday about a rift is disappointing, but you can’t control that,” he said.
Premier League
Today: 20.45 Burnley vs Newcastle United; Leicester vs Liverpool; Man. United vs Stoke City; Swansea vs QPR. 21.00 Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa; West Brom vs West Ham.
Tomorrow: 20.45 Arsenal vs Southampton; Chelsea vs Tottenham; Everton vs Hull City; Sunderland vs Manchester City.