MARCH 3
Gerrard: Future's bright at Anfield

By Tom Adams - Setanta Sports

Steven Gerrard remains convinced he can win The Premier League and fulfil his lofty ambitions at Liverpool, and has addressed misleading interpretations of his rallying call before the weekend’s win over Bolton.

The Reds captain did not hold back in a scathing assessment of a season to date that has seen Rafa Benitez’s side fall dismally off the title pace despite substantial investment in the playing squad in the summer.

What with the ongoing speculation off the pitch regarding a possible takeover from DIC and the astonishing admission from Tom Hicks that he sounded out Jurgen Klinsmann at the end of 2007, it has been a campaign to forget for the men on Merseyside.

Despite the club’s struggles though, Gerrard is certain that under Benitez, Liverpool have the capability to finish fourth this season and then make a renewed assault for their first league title since 1990.

“I am hungry for trophies – even more than when I was younger,” said Gerrard on the club’s official website.

“Maybe it's because I'm running out of time a bit! I'm 27 and want to make the most of my career and be as successful as I can.

“I think I am at the right club to do that because we've got a good squad and we are improving all the time. And we've got a good manager, so I'm really confident I can lift many more trophies here – and not just the Champions League.

“The future's bright. We've got a good, young squad, but there's also a lot of experienced players like Carragher and Hyypia. The signings that have been made are making an impact, so I've got confidence that we can go forward.

“The important thing short-term is to get in that fourth position, then we can re-group in the summer and have another go at winning the league. The players here know we've underachieved in the league this year. You go back to before the Villa game and we believed we could still be in the title race. That's disappointing but now we've got to finish as high as possible this year and have another go next season.”

The Reds will take fourth spot on goal difference from rivals Everton if they win their game in hand, and Gerrard is convinced that Liverpool can hold off the challenge of a number of sides to finish in the all-important final Champions League spot.

“It's going to be difficult because all the teams that are going for it have strengthened and they've all got good squads,” Gerrard added. “They are hitting the right form as well, but we're confident that if we play to our capabilities between now and the end of the season we'll take that fourth spot.

“The fight for Champions League places is hotting up, with the teams around us hitting form: the likes of your Villas and, obviously, Everton. It's important that we focus on what we're doing and try to stay consistent until the end of the season.”

The fall-out from Gerrard’s strong criticism of Liverpool’s form this season also had an undesired effect for the midfielder as he was faced with headlines claiming he was unconcerned about Champions League glory.

The England star has sought to address this though, adding: “As captain of the club it's very easy for your words to be twisted into something that doesn't really reflect the interview.

“The message I was trying to get across was that we are disappointed with where we are in the league, but that we're going to try to get into the top four and improve our league situation next season.

“Hopefully while we're going along we can get to another Champions League final. That would be a really good season. But the headlines got twisted into 'If we win the Champions League it won't be important' – which is nonsense. That is not what I meant at all.

“The message I was trying to get across was that, even if we do win the Champions League and finish fourth, we'll still look to improve in the league.”

JULY 19
Gerrard: We're ready to rumble

TEAMtalk

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard insists that Rafael Benitez's troops are now equipped to challenge for the Premier League title.

Ryan Babel, Fernando Torres, Andrei Voronin and Yossi Benayoun have all arrived at Anfield this summer and the England star is convinced that the Reds are now ready to match Manchester United and Chelsea.

"I've watched what the other teams are doing in the market and they're all strengthening, but all those teams will be looking at us and thinking we are going to be all over them this season," Gerrard told the LFC Magazine.

"I'm not going to start making any unnecessary predictions about what's going to happen this season and the last thing any of us need to do is build hopes up too much.

"But without doubt, if we all perform to our level each week, we have the players to push United and Chelsea all the way.

"We are looking in great shape, not only going into this season but for the next few years.

"I thought going away for the summer that we were three or four players away from where we need to be.

"Now I think we are in a great place to challenge United and Chelsea and I hope if we get things right from the beginning we can beat them to the big prizes this year.

"I've liked the way we've done business this summer. Previous years have shown how important it is to sort everything early in the pre-season, as it's not easy for players if they arrive just before the deadline.

"Hopefully with everyone having had the right amount of rest this summer we'll be able to hit the ground running when the Premiership begins. People say you can't win the league in August but I believe you can certainly lose it in the first month.

"It's fine saying it's a nine-month season and there is plenty of time to recover from a shaky start but it's hard playing catch-up week-in, week-out.

"The last thing you want to do is give teams like Manchester United and Chelsea a head start, making things even more difficult for you than they are already."

Gerrard feels he has benefited from a summer away from football this year.

"I missed a bit of the last pre-season because of the World Cup. I came back and felt I needed more holiday," he said.

"I was mentally and physically drained at the start of the season but this time I feel I've had a break and we will go into the season brimming with confidence."

MAY 6
Gerrard: I’m ready to sign new deal

By Tony Barrett - icLiverpool

Steven Gerrard was today edging closer to agreeing a deal which will tie his long term future to Liverpool as the Reds skipper admitted he has “never been happier with his football”.

Talks have been ongoing between Gerrard’s representatives and club officials for a number of weeks as Rafa Benitez looks to keep one of the jewels in Liverpool’s crown at Anfield.

And with a second Champions League final in just three years on the horizon, Gerrard appears ready to commit himself to a lengthy new deal.

He confirmed: “I’m in talks to extend my contract at Liverpool and I’ve never been happier with my football.

“I’d love nothing better than to get this contract sorted and signed.”

Benitez is equally keen to keep all his leading stars at the club and contract talks are also under way with Jamie Carragher, Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina and Steve Finnan.

Gerrard is delighted that the club has started talks with himself and his team-mates and now he is looking forward to seeing their futures resolved swiftly.

He said: “We need to keep all of our big players here so it’s very important we get the contracts sorted out so they can be here for a long time.”

The captain will be particularly keen to ensure there will be no repeat of the aftermath of the 2005 Champions League final when talks were allowed to break down, pushing him towards the Anfield exit door before being pulled back from the brink with a last minute change of heart over a proposed move to Chelsea.

In the meantime, Gerrard is concentrating on being in the best possible shape to take on AC Milan in the Champions League final and he believes Benitez’s keen eye for detail will give them the best possible chance of winning the trophy for a sixth time.

He said: “Rafa’s CV speaks for itself and I don’t have to tell you how good he is. There’s no getting away from it, he’s one of the best managers out there. We’re just lucky and grateful that he’s here and that he's our manager.

“We’re aware of Milan’s strengths and weaknesses and we’ll watch a lot of tapes before the game to make sure our preparations are spot on.

“We’ll go there and try to be really strong defensively like we have been in Europe.

“They’ve got top players but then so have we so there’s every chance we can go there and win.

“Obviously I’m really looking forward to it and I’m confident we can bring the Cup back home.

“They’re a fantastic team and we know it’s going to be really difficult so we need to be right at the top of our game.

“I’m sure they want to make amends because Istanbul hurt them. They have a chance for revenge but me and the boys are going to be ready for that.”

MARCH 21
Reds' hero gets his MBE

Liverpool Echo

Reds' hero Steven Gerrard was today made an MBE.

The Liverpool FC captain and England midfielder Gerrard was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by fiancee Alex Curran, who was conservatively dressed in a dark blue suit with frilled collar, for his investiture by the Queen.


Steven Gerrard, accompanied by fiancee Alex Curran,
gets his MBE from The Queen today. (Photo: AP)

Many football watchers have expressed surprise it has taken so long for Gerrard to receive an honour.

The 26-year-old’s crowning glory was the day he led his team back from the dead in Istanbul in 2005.

The Reds were 3-0 behind AC Milan in the final when Liverpool’s ‘Captain Fantastic’ drove home the first Liverpool goal and lifted what appeared to be a beaten side to an amazing victory.

He made his debut with Liverpool in November 1998 as a substitute against Blackburn and scored his first goal for the club in a 4-1 victory over Sheffield Wednesday in December 1999.

The born and bred Scouser was made captain in 2003 and stuck with Liverpool despite speculation he would join Chelsea.

He has two young daughters, Lilly-Ella and Lexie, with his partner Alex Curran.

Thor Zakariassen ©