Liverpool Manager Brendan Rodgers Hints at New Deal for Steven Gerrard

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has hinted the club could hand Steven Gerrard a new contract, waving away suggestions the club captain is past his best.

Gerrard, who retired from international duty following England's dismal World Cup campaign, has seen his performances come under scrutiny during his club's slow start to the season.

Liverpool have already lost three of their opening six games but it was the skipper who scored a dramatic opener for the Reds' in Saturday's Merseyside derby with Everton.

The 34-year-old is in the final year of his current deal at Anfield but Rodgers believes the long-serving midfielder can keep going for as long as he wants.

"It is something we are looking at as a club and with him and how he feels," Rodgers was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail.

"He is still in a real good physical condition. He is 34 years old, never needs a day's rest. This is a genuine superstar, a world-class player who has performed consistently for so many years, and this country has not produced too many of them.

"He will play and prepare himself right the way through to the very end, and when that is, we shall see."

Liverpool's draw with their Merseyside neighbours on Saturday leaves them sat in 14<sup>th place in the Premier League table, already nine off leaders Chelsea.

They recommence their Champions League campaign against Swiss champions FC Basel on Wednesday having scraped a 1-0 victory over Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets Razgrad in the opening group game.

And with Phil Jagielka's last minute equaliser from Saturday's derby still fresh in the minds of Liverpool players, Adam Lallana is hoping Wednedsay's game gives them the opportunity to put things right.

"[Jagielka's goal] was kind of a sucker-punch in the last minute, but we get a chance to put it right tonight," Lallana told Liverpool's official website.

That's all you can ask for off the back of a result like that.

"It'll be a fantastic start if we can get the win. It's going to be a tough game - coming away from home as well - but I think we got valuable experience from the first game [against Ludogorets Razgrad] and we showed great character.

"If we can possess that again tonight, we've got a great chance of getting a good result."