Liverpool: Emre Can targets midfield role to replace Steven Gerrard at Anfield

Emre Can has urged Brendan Rodgers to play him in the midfield as he remains confident he can be Steven Gerrard's successor at Liverpool.

The former England international allowed his contract to expire and ended his time at the Merseyside club following the completion of the 2014/15 season. Gerrard has already confirmed he will join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy.

The 21-year-old was signed from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2014. In his debut season in the Premier League, he made 23 starts. Most of those appearances were from a defensive role.

Gerrard's Anfield exit has left a void in Liverpool's midfield. Can remains confident he can step up to replace the former Reds skipper and admitted the former Swansea manager is aware of his abilities in the centre of the pitch.

"At the moment I am happy, but I'll quickly play on my preferred position, namely in the central midfield. The coach knows about it and sees it the same way I do," Can told German magazine 11 Freunde.

"Since my childhood I have been following Steven Gerrard's career at Liverpool. And now there is such a legend next to you and talking normally. He is not arrogant, a very quiet guy. Steven is a role model for all of us."

"It would be great if I have such a career, but I want to follow my own path. The farewell was hard for everybody. It's normal that there's a period of adaptation, but I always believed in myself and haven't regretted joining Liverpool for a second.

"The Premier League is the best league in the world for me. This is primarily a physical challenge, higher tempo, more duels."

"In the Bundesliga, I thought that I'm already well built. Then in England suddenly there are players with incredible stature," the German midfielder added.

Can is currently with the Germany U21 squad for the ongoing Euro U21 Championship in Czech Republic. He started in the midfield position and scored the equaliser during his side's 1-1 draw against Serbia in the opening match of the tournament.