Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refuses to rush captain into signing a new deal
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has “earned the right” to discuss his future with any club he wishes, says his manager Brendan Rodgers.
Gerrard is free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a rival club as of Thursday because of a contract impasse.
The 34-year-old was offered a new deal by his club in November – much later than he had expected – and has been delaying a decision since as he has assessed whether to end a 25-year association with Anfield.
Rodgers will give Gerrard as much time as he needs. “I have got a great relationship and communication with Steven so we understand exactly the position,” he said. “I think he has earned that respect if he does [talk to anyone].”
Major League Soccer franchise New York Red Bulls are interested in Gerrard, and a host of Champions League-calibre clubs abroad will be hoping to tempt him.
Among the considerations for Gerrard is how many games he will be expected to sit out at Anfield next season. He has been rested several times recently, but will be back in the starting line-up against Leicester at Anfield on Thursday.
“He will be straight back in,” Rodgers said. “He’s a wonderful player and a wonderful servant to this football club. From my time here he has been brilliant for me. I have just got to manage his games.
“When I came in here 2½ years ago, everyone talked about whether he could play my type of football and were his legs gone? Arguably he could have been the player of the year last year. He understands my situation of picking the best team and making it fresh as often as we can. He missed out the other night but he will play against Leicester.”
A strong showing in the second half of the season would go some way to convincing Gerrard if he is going to adjust to being squad player.
However, Rodgers says he is not planning to strengthen his squad this month, although loan deals may be ended early. Liverpool retain an interest in bringing striker Divock Origi to England from Lille six months early, and winger Jordan Ibe could be recalled from Derby County, where he has impressed.
“Jordan’s a loan to the end of season, but we could bring him back if we need to, because there is a review in January,” Rodgers said. “If we bring him back it would be to contribute to the first team. I’ve seen Jordan, and he’s been outstanding.”
Rodgers says the form of Raheem Sterling as a striker has also reduced the urgency to sign another forward. Daniel Sturridge is expected to return in mid-January following treatment in the United States.
“When I took over here and started working with Raheem, one of the things that impressed me was his tactical idea of the game,” Rodgers said. “We set the team up to press. That was one of the key things for me for putting him in the team.
“The ability with the ball was there to see, and his pace, but his actual tactical awareness of the game is very, very good.
“He can play as a front player, and he can also play anywhere along that front line and that’s the type of player that I like. He has really impressed me with his awareness and intelligence of the game.
“Sometimes it’s not so much about the player, it’s about the position. You need to have a player in there that will get good numbers and score goals and you see that in him. He has got the ability to do that, along with one or two of the other players. He has been terrific in that role.
“We have got players like Rickie Lambert, Mario, Fabio Borini who can see the benefits of how the team has worked over the last few weeks and they understand for us to get back to the level we have been at in the last 18 months, it’s about the team and the profile of the player in that position.”
Liverpool are without the suspended Martin Skrtel’s for Leicester’s visit, but Dejan Lovren has returned to training.
by Chris Bascombe / The Telegraph
