By Dominic King
|
Steven Gerrard has signed a new two-year contract extension at Liverpool which will keep him playing at Anfield past his 35th birthday.
The Liverpool captain, whose glittering Anfield career will be celebrated with a testimonial against Olympiakos on August 3, had entered the final year of his previous deal but was eager to sign on for longer.
Speaking to the Liverpool website, Gerrard said: 'I think everyone knows what it means to me.
Done: Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has signed an extension to keep him at the club until 2015
'I've been here that long and so to extend, it's a big day for me and I'm really happy for myself and my family. It's great news.
'It lets me know the club thinks an awful lot of me and want me here.
'I'm glad it's all done and it's happened at the right time before the season, so I can just focus on playing as well as I can.'
Managing director Ian Ayre added: 'It's fantastic for everyone - the club, Steven and the fans.
'He is - and always has been - such a big part of Liverpool Football Club. Particularly in this day and age, it's rather unique to find a local player who has given his whole career to his club.
'We're pleased today to add an extension to his existing agreement and that keeps him here until the end of his career.
'We've said what we'll do in two years' time is review it again and see how happy Steven is. We seem to always be happy with him, so hopefully we'll just continue in that vein.'
One-man club: Gerrard has only ever played for Liverpool and looks like staying until he decides to retire
This is the first time since Gerrard made his debut in December 1998 that he has ever entered the final year of his contract but his standing within the club remains as crucial as ever and manager Brendan Rodgers frequently described him as being 'remarkable' last season.
Gerrard, who last signed a new contract in January 2012, will be part of the squad that Brendan Rodgers takes to Indonesia tomorrow for a 12-day tour of the Far East and Asia during which Liverpool will play games in Jakarta, Melbourne and Bangkok.
Daniel Sturridge, however, is almost certain to remain on Merseyside to continue with his rehabilitation programme.
The England striker is fighting to be fit for the opening Barclays Premier League game against Stoke after suffering ankle ligament damage against the Republic of Ireland in May.
Looking up: Rodgers' summer has gone from strength to strength, with several promising signings
Liverpool warmed up for their trip with a comfortable workout at Deepdale on Saturday and Rodgers, who is continuing to look for reinforcements, gave debuts to his four summer signings Kolo Toure, Luis Alberto, Iago Aspas and goalkeeper Simon Mignolet.
Of the quarter, Aspas caught the eye, setting up a goal for Raheem Sterling before scoring one of his own with a 20-yard left-footed drive.
Philippe Coutinho, from the penalty spot, and Jordon Ibe got Liverpool's goals before Rodgers made wholesale changes at half-time.
Mignolet, a 9million acquisition from Sunderland, was rarely tested but he was nevertheless pleased to get a clean sheet on his debut, as he prepares to go head-to-head with Pepe Reina to become Liverpool's number one.
'You have to always remain focused and it's nice to be finding my own form again,' said Mignolet. 'When you play against a team like Preston, you hope to be dominant and you hope to score goals and that's what we did. I have to make sure that I train hard and do well in the games I play.'
Rejuvenate: Sturridge is likely to stay in Merseyside to recover from his ankle injury
I can understand why Liverpool fans love this guy, but despite the media pumping him up he is a GOOD, rather than GREAT player. In terms of English midfielders of the last few years I'd put him third, behind Lampard and Scholes. Oh, and he should never captain any side, lacks the ability to motivate those around him. Carra would have made a much better captain for LFC and we all know that Gerrard was third choice captain for England. - Lebowski, Joburg, 16/7/2013********** Let me see, Lebowski in Jo'burg (not exactly the place where the cream of the footballing world hang out) reckons Gerrard is merely 'Good' and in 2009 Zinedine Zidane reckoned Gerrard was the 'Best footballer in the world' now who's opinion should I take note of?
- Bill , Wasp in the South, United Kingdom, 16/7/2013 16:43
Report abuse