Brendan Rodgers confirmed Liverpool have offered a new deal to skipper Steven Gerrard and the midfielder is now weighing up his options.
The 34-year-old retired from international football earlier in the summer to focus on the club career. He has less than a year left on his contract and his current deal expires at the end of this season.
The former Swansea boss heaped praise on Gerrard for his contribution to Liverpool and has also revealed the star midfielder is now given time to consider the offer made by the Merseyside club.
“The latest is we have spoken to Steven and his representative and he has been offered a contract here. At this moment that is where it is at,” Rodgers told in his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“For everything he has done here over 16 years he deserves the respect and time to consider that. It’s a big move in his life in terms of determining where his next contract will be. It certainly won’t be about money.
“I have spoken to him enough times and at length, so he deserves the opportunity to think about that. He is the best player I have worked in with the Premier League and I hope that continues, but i will give him as long as it takes.
“It is always the case no matter how good they have, once a player gets to the final years you have to work out how to get the best from him. Everyone knows his history and what a player he has been and still is. I still see that talent. He is a wonderful player.
“We are talking about someone who is still a world class talent but when you get older you have to manage that.
“Every players wants to play every game but his focus has always been on the team. It is about managing the period of his life he is in. It reaches every player. It is not an issue or a problem,” Liverpool manager concluded.
The Reds face Leicester City in the Premier League clash on Tuesday evening. Gerrard was benched for their last fixture against Stoke City, which also marked his 16th anniversary at Liverpool.
Rodgers admitted that he was unaware of the occasion and has also played down suggestions that there is a rift between him and Gerrard.
“I saw some things written that were unfortunate in terms of a rift. That is disappointing. There is only honesty and respect between us. He is at the stage of his career where it’s not only about the number of games he plays but quality of those games,” Rodgers said.
“One hundred per cent there is no problem and Steven made that point on social media. We have huge respect for each other,” the Northern Irishman concluded.
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