Skipper Gerrard to pen new Liverpool deal as Rodgers' successful summer continues
By DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 10:30, 14 July 2013 | UPDATED: 23:25, 14 July 2013
Steven Gerrard is set to give Liverpool a significant boost by signing a contract extension.
The Liverpool captain has entered the final year of his current deal but talks have progressed smoothly and Gerrard, whose glittering Anfield career will be celebrated with a testimonial against Olympiakos on August 3, is on the verge of putting pen to paper.
Liverpool opened talks with Gerrard and his advisors in the spring but there has never been a suggestion of him going elsewhere and the 33-year-old, who sat out Saturday’s 4-0 win over Preston, said in May “it was only a matter of time” before the business was concluded.
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.
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.’
By DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 10:30, 14 July 2013 | UPDATED: 23:25, 14 July 2013
Steven Gerrard is set to give Liverpool a significant boost by signing a contract extension.
The Liverpool captain has entered the final year of his current deal but talks have progressed smoothly and Gerrard, whose glittering Anfield career will be celebrated with a testimonial against Olympiakos on August 3, is on the verge of putting pen to paper.
Liverpool opened talks with Gerrard and his advisors in the spring but there has never been a suggestion of him going elsewhere and the 33-year-old, who sat out Saturday’s 4-0 win over Preston, said in May “it was only a matter of time” before the business was concluded.
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.
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.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...#ixzz2Z5wI6O1q
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