{"id":238338,"date":"2014-12-31T23:12:00","date_gmt":"2014-12-31T23:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ghana-mma.com\/steven-gerrard-still-key-for-liverpool-says-brendan-rodgers\/"},"modified":"2014-12-31T23:12:00","modified_gmt":"2014-12-31T23:12:00","slug":"steven-gerrard-still-key-for-liverpool-says-brendan-rodgers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2014\/12\/31\/steven-gerrard-still-key-for-liverpool-says-brendan-rodgers\/","title":{"rendered":"Steven Gerrard still key for Liverpool, says Brendan Rodgers"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The 34-year-old has been a talismanic captain for the Anfield club, famously helping Liverpool to UEFA Champions League and FA Cup successes during his time as skipper.<\/p>\n

However, as the former England international approaches the final years of his career, Rodgers has often opted to use Gerrard off the bench.<\/p>\n

Gerrard’s current contract expires at the end of the season, with Rodgers confirming early in December that Liverpool had offered the midfielder a new deal.<\/p>\n

While no agreement has yet been reached between player and club, Rodgers remains unequivocal about Gerrard’s importance to the team.<\/p>\n

“He’s a wonderful player and wonderful servant to this football club and in particular in my time here he’s been brilliant for me,” the Northern Irishman said on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

“I’ve just got to manage his game. When I came in here two and a half years ago, everyone was talking about whether he can play in my type of football and were his legs gone?<\/p>\n

“You’ve seen him over the last couple of years, arguably he could be the player of the year for last year. So he’s a player that I’m just managing his game-time.”<\/p>\n

Rodgers has always said that his decisions on whether to select Gerrard are based on fitness and keeping things fresh, with the Liverpool skipper rested for Monday”s 4-1 win over Swansea City at Anfield.<\/p>\n

However, Gerrard is set to return to action against Leicester City on Thursday.<\/p>\n

“I understand, it’s my situation of picking the best team and making it fresh as often as we possibly can,” Rodgers added.<\/p>\n

“He missed out the other night, but he’ll definitely play [on Thursday].”<\/p>\n

For more sports news visit allSports.com.gh<\/p>\n

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