Phil Jones : We have proved people wrong

About the Match Winning against the Kop

“We have proved people wrong up to now,”

“People can assume and predict, and it is up to us to prove them wrong. That is what the lads enjoy doing. We enjoy proving them wrong. So far we have done that. But we said before the Liverpool game that not everything was riding on this match. We have another eight massive fixtures coming up with some tough ones away and at home. We know we are in for a difficult last eight games.”

“People criticising does spur you on. You are always going to get critics. We are at a massive club here at Manchester United and if things aren't going as well as they should be then there are always going to be people wanting to have a dig and a pop at you.”

“We just take it on the chin. It is water off a duck's back. We know if we continue to produce performances like this week and last week then we will be fine. We have been well aware of the criticism we have had. We are professionals and we are in a job where people have an opinion about you and they are entitled to it. We just have to get on with it.”

About His Duet with Chris Smalling for Replacing Rio Ferdinand & Nemanja Vidic

“It has been difficult for us,"

"It had been documented that me and Chris were going to be the next centre backs at United but it has not gone how we would have liked it. Somebody told me the other day that we have actually only played alongside each other about four times in four seasons.”

“You cannot build a partnership on four games. Hopefully now we have had back-to-back games together we can keep it going and keep playing well together. We complement each other well. It is not just Chris and I going for the position though. We have some great players in the squad. Marcos Rojo has come in and been terrific. He has been a great addition to this squad. It [the competition for places] is healthy. It is what we expect and what we want.”

manutd.com

Steven Gerrard : I take full responsibility for my action

"I need to accept it, I think the decision was right. I've let my teammates and the manager down today, and even more importantly let all of the supporters down.”

"I take full responsibility for my action. I've tried to jump his tackle when I've seen his studs and I've reacted wrong.”

"I've been in the game long enough to know when you do something like that...especially with the timing of the game - 45 to play with a great opportunity to get back into the game. I take full responsibility for it."

"I don't know [what caused it]. It was probably just a reaction to the initial tackle, but I don't think I should say too much more on it, really.”

"I've come to speak to apologise to everyone in the dressing room and all of the supporters all over the place because I take full responsibility for today's result."

liverpoolfc.com

Joe Allen : About Important Winning againts Swansea

Liverpool 1 - 0 Swansea ( March 16, 2015)

About the Game

"The manager said we needed to be better in all aspects of our game, and that was fair enough,"

"We weren't quite at the races. But we tweaked a couple of things; we limited them to very little in the second half and obviously got the goal ourselves."

About his Performance

"I've spoken time and time again about the effect injuries can have on the momentum you get with performances and time out there.

"Thankfully, it was one game. We were pretty confident it would only be that game. It was great to be back out there and part of another winning performance."

About the Competition Race

"It will be significant, I'm sure,"

"It's one that as players you always look forward to.

"It was important, with them getting three points at the weekend, that we answered with three points ourselves to keep within touching distance."

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : It's a Great Victory

Liverpool 1 - 0 Swansea (March 16, 2015)

About the Winning

"It was a wonderful demonstration of the character and resilience in the team, especially [after] how we played in the first half."

"Any system you play in the game doesn't work unless you have that ability to work, and we just weren't anywhere near it in the first half. But that resilience and character kept us in the game."

"We knew we were going to be better in the second half, we changed the structure of the team a little bit and then I thought in the second half we really dominated the game."

"You can see whenever the team isn't quite pressing how we want then it becomes a little bit broken, like it was in the first half."

"We pressed the game and shortened the pitch much more in the second half. We got the goal and had opportunities to get a few more."

"We know that we have the capacity to win games. Our away record over the last two years is really strong.

"You see the resilience in the team and when we're not playing so well, we've still got that organisation and resolve to keep a clean sheet.

"In the second half we were much more fluent in our passing and movement. We played the most part of the game in their half. We didn't have too many scares in the second half.

"It's a great victory, it's a difficult place to come here and we're very happy."

About Strategy

"People who know me and have watched my teams regularly from when I was a youth coach, my teams have played 4-3-3 and 4-4-2 diamond."

"If you look at Swansea tonight, they were a diamond and we were a box in midfield, and they got between us quite well I felt because they've got good players and they passed it well."

"We've prepared that in training for if we have to flip and you see the difference it can make. The players went smoothly into it."

"You push the sides further up, so it's a 3-4-3 but in a different format. We pushed Raheem [Sterling] higher up the pitch onto the full-back, [Alberto] Moreno went right high and then the diamond occupies the spaces in midfield.

"They play with two front players, but we still go three versus two at the back and then that allows us to have the extra numbers. It worked well for us."

About 13 games unbeaten in the division since mid-December.

"I'm proud whichever way [we win]," 

"We work very hard first and foremost on how we defend.

"It's not just about the style, you have to have a foundation and the foundation for that is how we press the game."

About Steven Gerrard As Substitution

"What we did in the second half was run more without the ball, that notion for the team that you've got to move not just when you have the ball, you've got to run off it.

"We talked at half-time about penetrating and options for the guy in possession. Steven came on and offered that calmness.

"We switched to the diamond in the second half. He came in and fitted into the bottom of that. His calmness and control was very important in that."

"You have to pay respect to the team."

"They've been playing very, very well and getting results. Collectively over the last three months we've been in great form."

"But, of course, Steven has been out for a considerable period of time. He's fit [now] and you saw him in the game today how important he is when he came on."

About the Competition

"We can now really look forward to that. Tonight, whatever, we needed a result - so to get the victory was a huge result for us."

"At home, we look forward to going into this game - they're massive games, great games to be involved in."

"Hopefully, it'll show the strides we've made since we played them a number of months back. For that, I have to give immense credit to the team."

"We've put ourselves in a great position. There is still a lot of work to go so we'll recover now and get ready for the weekend."

"[The target is] to finish as high as we can. Everyone talks about fourth but it's the same every year for me. We do the best we can do."

"Manchester City's result at the weekend gives us an opportunity to finish second, so our mentality, the run and confidence we have at the moment we're just going to take that into every game and see where it takes us."

"We've clawed our way slowly back into it. We knew it was going to take time being so many points behind, but to get back to this level of consistency is very, very impressive."

"We've still got a lot of work to do, but we're on the right pathway."

liverpoolfc.com

Exclusive Interview : Daniel Sturridge's Comeback

Daniel, it's great to see you back at Melwood. Firstly, how are you feeling at the moment, both physically and mentally?
I'm feeling great, looking forward to getting back into action and helping my teammates.

We know you've recently returned from a period in the United States. How useful was that for your rehabilitation?
It was hugely important and I am thankful to the guys over there who helped me out, specifically Dan Dyrek, who works for Fenway and was very good. There was also a guy called Scott [Schrimscher] and there was Katz - there were a few people there who helped me out and I am grateful to all of them for the work they did for me.

What kind of work were you doing out there in America?
It was similar to stuff I would do here with the team at Liverpool and it was no detriment to them, it was just a change of environment and it was important for me, mentally, to get away. The staff at Liverpool are top-class, but over there it was a case of being in a different environment with weather and a different team of people which enabled me to improve in every way, shape and form. I am happy with how it went.

You say it's been a good time for you mentally - do you think you're a stronger person having been through something like this?
Yes, for sure. It just allows you to enjoy the moments that you don't enjoy when you're playing. You have successful moments, but you don't realise that you have to enjoy it. I am very hard on myself a lot of the time, so even if I have played well I am still looking at the bad points. It gives you time to assess things and time to assess what you need to do to get to where you want to be in life.

How important have your teammates and the manager been over the last few months? What kind of messages have they been sending you while you've been out?
It's been positive things, really. I've been away and I've kept my head down, but I've kept in contact with everyone. It was important for me to get away and just do what I needed to do, watch from afar and see my teammates and how well they were playing. It's been an important period for myself, but I am looking forward to the future and everything from now going forward is hopefully going to be positive.

You're coming back into the team at a good time. They've played very well over the last couple of months. It's certainly a positive, exciting period...
Yes, it is - very exciting. The lads have shown great character and it's been a defining few weeks for us in terms of performances. We were very unlucky in the Capital One Cup, but obviously it wasn't meant to be. We will learn from that and it will be big for everyone's future. We've got a very young squad - people don't realise how young our squad is. I am looking forward to maturing with everyone as a group and hopefully we can all stay together. Obviously the leader and the figurehead, Stevie, will be moving on but everyone is going to be like a sponge trying to take all the experience and the leadership that we can learn from him because he is a very hard person to replace. I am sure people will step up and will look to bring some success to the future of the club, just like he has done in the past.

liverpoolfc.com

Simon Mignolet : We Deserved to Win

"In big games you always want to put in big performances and we did that against Chelsea,"

"We made it very difficult for Chelsea, who have been in top form. There was only one team who deserved to win, and that was us.

"We played some great football, created a lot of chances and the only thing that was missing was a few more goals.

"That performance will give everyone a boost. We showed how much we have improved but the message is we can't afford to get carried away. Everyone needs to stay calm.

"Hopefully we can get the right result at Stamford Bridge and get ourselves into the final. We believe we can go there and get the result we want.

"It's not important who are the favourites now. We have to look at ourselves. We just need to put in a similar performance to this one. Tuesday will be a different game and we have to keep doing the same things."

liverpoolfc.com

Eden Hazard & Thibaut Courtois : Heroes of The Match

Eden Hazard : 
About the Game
‘We like to play these games,’
‘It was difficult to get a better result but the draw is not bad.
‘With the chances they had in the second half and they hit the post, we have to be happy with the result. Now we have to finish it at home, where we are strong, in front of our own fans.
‘The game will be like a final. We can win there and go to Wembley.’
‘It was not our best performance and after they scored their goal it was difficult because they tried to score another one but they didn’t and that is good for the second game. A draw here is not bad.’
About his Penalty
‘Sometimes in training with Belgium Simon [Mignolet] saves my penalties so I was a little bit scared but it was a goal and that was good,’

Thibaut Courtois : About the Saving
‘Sterling put the ball back to him and I couldn’t see when the ball left [his boot],’ Courtois explained.
‘I had a good reaction and made a good save and that is why I’m in the team: to help them when they need me. I was able to do that.’


chelseafc.com

Raheem Sterling : We Can Win next week in Stamford Bridge

About the Game
"Obviously we were disappointed to be 1-0 down going into the break,"
"But the lads stuck in there really well and played some great football at times. We kept the ball really well and exploited the space. We could have gone on and won the game.

"But it's not the worst result - we'll go into next week's game fully focused, knowing we can win there. Hopefully we'll play our best and try to get the result.
"[We have to] play our normal game, try to keep the ball, be patient and don't try to rush things. We know we'll get chances there.
"It is down to us to keep focused over the next few days and go into the Bolton game, that's the most important one now.
"Hopefully we can get the result there and then think about Tuesday when it comes. We just need to play our normal game and everything else will follow."

About the Goal
"Jordan [Henderson] passed me the ball, I got to the edge of the box and thought I would shoot.
"It scuffed into the back of the net so it was a lucky finish, but it was good to get on the scoresheet and help the team get the draw in the end.

About Age Composition in Team
"There are quite a few young lads in the group; I thought everyone stepped up to the plate and played some good football at times, really comfortable on the ball.
"We didn't show the senior players in the Chelsea team too much respect and that's great to see. Hopefully we can carry that on into the next game."

About his first Comeback after New Years break
"The manager planned it from the beginning for me to get a little break, because I have played quite a lot of minutes,"
"I come back now fully focused and ready to go again. Hopefully I can help the team as much as possible, if it's scoring or assisting or doing something to try to get the best result for the team."

liverpoolfc.com

Adam Lallana : I can't believe the 'keeper saved it

About Courtois Saving
"I can't believe the 'keeper saved it, I was halfway on my celebration,"
"It was a fantastic save and probably one of the reasons why he got Man of the Match. He is world-class and Chelsea are a world-class team."

About the Game
"We come off the pitch disappointed but still in the game. We'll go to Stamford Bridge and we're fully confident we can go through to the final."
"I thought we played well in the first half but gave away a pretty soft penalty. The lads showed great character to get back into it. We said at half-time to be patient and that we were going to get chances."
"Being on the bench for the first hour and especially for the first 15 minutes of the second half, we knew we were going to come back and get chances - eventually we got the goal."

About Raheem Sterling
"He has shown maturity for the last three or four weeks - he has had to play in a position where he has not played so much.
"I thought he took his goal superbly; he let the ball run across the body, had a couple of touches and on his weaker foot put it into the bottom corner."

About Confidence Level
"We had a difficult start to the season, but the manager has found a shape and got people on the pitch in the right areas; we're causing teams problems."
"There is great confidence flowing among the team - Philippe is at the top of his game, Raheem, and it was great to have Stevie back fit. He hit the post as well and came through it unscathed."
"Defensively, we're looking good as a shape and we just keep improving."

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Fabio Borini & Ricky Lambert

About Opportunity to Play
"I've said to all the players, be ready for when you're asked to play because it's very much about the squad,"
"It's important for me as a manager to recognise and acknowledge how hard the players are working, not just the ones who are starting but also the players outside of that."

"They know they have got to keep working well because that opportunity will come at some stage."
"Every player gets the chance to train every day and give their best. Then, when they get onto the field, they have the chance to prove their worth."

About Fabio Borini
"I was very pleased for Fabio,"
"He's a young player that has never given up in his time here, which needs to be said. He's shown great personality to persevere and keep going."

"I'm the type of coach that is on the training ground every day and if players are working hard and well in training, they will get a chance because training well will get them into the team. We've shown that a number of times here with the players."

"He's a boy that understands the game tactically very well and understands what we're trying to do."
"I thought the impact from him and Rickie Lambert at the weekend was exceptional - they both delivered, both played very well and got us the points."

About Ricky Lambert's Goal Celebration
"I thought it was brilliant, I've got to be honest," Rodgers said of the celebration. "I know he got booked for it, but I thought it was a yellow card worth taking!
"You score a goal like that, as a local boy to get the chance to go and celebrate with your own supporters and people - and you've probably got family in the crowd as well - [was brilliant].
"It captured the spirit of our squad, how tight they are and how well they're working. It was a great moment."

About Ricky Lambert's Performance so far
"It's very important for any squad to have that type of player,"
"For Rickie, that was his role coming into here - someone who wasn't going to play in every single game and he understood where he was at. But because of the injuries, he's been shoved right to the front and at times it has been difficult, not just for him but also for the team."

"What you know about Rickie is he can score a goal. He's a fantastic professional to work with."
"When we brought him here, there was certainly no sentiment in it. It's important if you've got players who have the club at heart, but he was brought in because he's a quality player and could really help us throughout the season.

"He's done that and is a joy to work with, prepares himself every day, wants to train every single day, works hard at his game, works hard at his finishing and when he's called upon, he'll give everything."
"I was delighted for him when he got his goal and was able to celebrate with the supporters, it was a great moment for him."

liverpoolfc.com

Jordan Henderson : About Match-Winning against Aston Villa

"It was a fantastic finish,"
"Rickie has got great finishing ability and he came on and worked really hard for us, holding the ball up and showing his quality with the goal."
"You can see how much it means to Rickie [from his celebration]. But as a team it meant a lot to get the three points. It was very, very pleasing.

"First half, I thought we controlled the game well and had quite a few chances to go 2-0 up. We knew that in the second half they would come out and make it very difficult, putting the ball into the box early, but I thought we dealt with it really well.
"I thought the back three - as well as the goalkeeper - were fantastic, dealing with the long balls and the set pieces. As a team, we were very solid. Thankfully we got the second goal with a great finish from Rick."

"I think Lazar [Markovic] and Philippe [Coutinho] produced some good play in the corner and I just made a forward run and it was a great ball from Lazar," reflected the midfielder. "Then I've just put it in an area and Fabio got a great contact to it and a great finish.
"It was a good goal, but then I thought that throughout the first half, we kept dominating and really wanted the second goal, but it didn't quite come. We kept going, kept digging in and we got it in the end."

About Villa's Performance
"It was a difficult period, but we knew that would happen," said Henderson. "They are a good team, Villa. I thought Simon Mignolet was outstanding for the whole game, dealing with crosses coming into the box, he was very dominant.

About Simon Mignolet
"Simon is a great lad and a great professional, who works really hard. I think he's dealt with everything fantastically well. That was the same last week. He put in a great performance and he did that again today, which was not only great for the team, but also for him personally."

liverpoolfc.com

Rickie Lambert : It's unbelievable to score for Liverpool

About the Goal
"Running to the fans is [something] I will always remember," the No.9 told Liverpoolfc.com following the final whistle. "It was brilliant. Absolutely superb. It's brilliant to score a goal, but it's unbelievable to score for Liverpool.

"Raheem put me in, but I knew there was a player there, so I couldn't take it inside. Raheem was on the outside, which helped me put it through the defender's legs."
"To see it go in was brilliant. Obviously I want to affect the game and the best way to do that is to score the goal for my club."

About Team Performance
"I thought our display was superb again. I think each week we're getting better and better and the momentum is building. Again, we definitely deserved the win."
"We didn't manage to get the second early in the game, which I think we deserved. Then there were a few shaky moments, but full credit has to go to the 'keeper today, Simon Mignolet. I thought he was superb."

"I think our attacking performance is getting better, but as we didn't manage to get the second [early on], when called upon, our defence, especially the 'keeper, was there for us," continued Lambert.

About His Partner Fabio Borini
"I was pleased for Fabio," said Lambert. "It was a great goal. He's done well. He was superb against Sunderland and he's done well today.

"He's played the role brilliantly and he's got his goal. It was a great ball by Hendo, and we deserved to go at least 1-0 up. It was a great performance from every player."

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Comeback of Some Key Players

"We're getting there in terms of injuries."

About Raheem Sterling's comeback
"Raheem is back in the squad, which is good news. He's refreshed and ready to work.

About Glen Johnson's comeback
"Glen Johnson has been back in training, so we'll see how he is in terms of availability. He's not been training for long, so we'll see how he is after the session tomorrow [Friday]."

About Adam Lallana's comeback
"We're monitoring the likes of Steven and Adam Lallana. Adam's been out for a little while, but he's on the field.
"He was playing very, very well and has settled into the club very well.
"He's ahead of schedule in terms of his rehabilitation. We're hoping he can join the group tomorrow to train.
"If he's not available for the weekend, then certainly for Chelsea he will be.
"He's a wonderful technician; he's linked up with players when he's played and he will only get better as his time progresses here at the club."

About Steven Gerrard's comeback
"We'll see by the end of play tomorrow [with Steven]. If not, then hopefully by the Chelsea game.

About Daniel Sturridge's comeback
"Daniel Sturridge is back and working well. He's obviously not ready to play as of yet, but he's working well, so hopefully in the near future he'll be ready.
"Time will tell. We just want him fit and there's no timeline on that as such.
"He's working hard, he's back in the final stages of his rehab here at the club, but there is no time on it yet."

About Jon Flanagan & Joe Allen Progress
"Young Jon Flanagan is still a little bit of time off [from fitness] and Joe Allen should be back training with the group in the next couple of days.

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Dejan Lovren

"Dejan will prove in his time here he is a very, very good player," said the boss.

"It's never easy and we've seen it over many years at the big clubs, players that come in - some will settle in straight away and some will take that little bit of time."

"For a defender - a central defender - he's still very, very young."

"He in his time here will prove to be an outstanding player. He's a good guy and whether he starts on the field or comes off the bench, he'll come and do his best."

"This whole year's experience for him as a Liverpool player will benefit him. Over the coming months and years, he'll show what a top player he is."

liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : About Match-WInning againts Sunderland

"I thought we were outstanding," said the boss after the final whistle in the north east. "In the first half, we had real control of the game, good tempo and pressed the ball very well.

"I thought we were outstanding," said the boss after the final whistle in the north east. "In the first half, we had real control of the game, good tempo and pressed the ball very well.
"We scored a very good goal and should have had a penalty, hit the crossbar and had one or two other chances. In the second half we again started well.

"Their sending-off probably threw us a little bit more than them for about 10 minutes. But once we regained the ball, started to move and get good positions on the field to pass it, we started to create chances again.

"When it's only 1-0, you're always tentative a little bit, but defensively I thought the players were excellent in their pressure and how strong they were. It's a difficult place to come but it was a very good result and performance.

"I always felt it would come, it was just going to be a matter of time. In the first part of the season it was difficult for us, but it was about getting the players into the team and also what we have been missing - we had Sturridge out and what we lost in the summer.

"It was always a case of trying to find the solutions in order to get us playing how we have been playing for the last 18 months to two years.

"In the last number of weeks, we have started to see that - the domination with the ball, the control, but also with tempo and pace in the team. Put alongside that a real willingness to defend then we're slowly getting back to where we want to be.

"We've still got a way to go, but the exciting thing is that in my two years here we've always been better in the second part of the season, that's the business end.

"We've still got Sturridge, Sterling, Lallana and Johnson, all these guys, to come back into the squad. It's going how I hoped it would and hopefully we can continue with this momentum."

"Look at Emre Can today, young Lazar, Alberto Moreno and the other players. It has just taken them time - they have come to a new country and there's a big spotlight on them because of what we did last year.

"It has been difficult for the team, but they are starting to settle into the philosophy of how we work and how we play.

"[Markovic] was fantastic - not just with the ball in his goal and the one that hit the crossbar, but his ability to press people and defend, which is important for us. He is only 20 years of age, so there's a big future for him."

"I've obviously put him as the vice-captain of the club," added the manager. "He has really grown, not just as a footballer but as a young man - I've seen it over the last couple of years.

"You saw his quality today, his leadership, his running ability and his power. He's a fantastic young man. That was the reason for giving [the vice-captaincy], so that if there are times when Steven isn't on the field, he is a real leader for us.

"He is developing really well and there's no question that he can go on and become the captain at the club."

liverpoolfc.com

Jordan Henderson : About Lazar Markovic & Match-Winning againts Sunderland

"He's a fantastic player,". "He's got great potential."

"He wants to learn all the time and he puts in hard work on the training field. I think you saw that today - the quality he has got going forward."

"Overall, it was very pleasing. We knew coming here would be difficult. They made it very difficult for us. In the first half, I thought we controlled the game really well. And then we dug in towards the end and tried to fight for the result. Thankfully we got it."
liverpoolfc.com

Brendan Rodgers : Abour Raheem Sterling Comeback

"Raheem will be back next week. It's something that was already planned from the summer.

"In my time here, in two and a half years, he's come from the youth team through to becoming a full international player and one of the best young players in European football.

"There's a lot asked of him and if I was selfish I would maybe have him here with me for every single minute because he's been brilliant, but I need to think of the kid and the long-term for Liverpool and for him.

"I felt after the Christmas period, because he's played a lot for me - he's played over 100 games already as a kid and he's just turned 20 - it would be a good period for him to have a rest.

"He missed the FA Cup tie and missed today's game, then he rejoins us again next week and will be fresh and fit for the second half of the season."

Brendan Rodgers : About Daniel Sturridge Recovery

"He will be back into the country in the next 24 hours and he is into the final stages of that rehab," said Rodgers.

"Two years ago, he came in the January window (from Chelsea) and made a great impact and has been fantastic when he has been fit here. He is a top-class player who has a wonderful idea of the game and wonderful qualities and if you put him into any team, it makes them a better team - his pace is frightening, his touch and his movement."

"As a footballer, he is at a great age and if he can sustain his fitness, he has already shown in his goals here - one of the quickest players to the goals record he has here - we are hoping he can stay fit and lead the charge for us over the next few years."

"The work he has done in America has been fantastic; he has been well supported out there and he has travelled about to get treatment from the best people in the world."

"We are hoping at some point in January he will come back into the team and help us to achieve something. It is difficult to forecast, especially with injuries: you can put a date in and they come back earlier or it may take a bit more time."

"We have had lots of collaboration with our people in America, a lot of great work has gone on, we have been monitoring and he looks in a real good moment. We will assess him first, see where he is at and get the feeling from him."

"We have to take our time on this one - not just for us at Liverpool but over his career what (treatment) has gone on hasn't clearly worked as he gets a number of games and then is unfit. We are aiming to look after the medium and long-term here and he won't be rushed. Hopefully he won't be too far away."

football365.com

Steven Gerrard : About His Contract & Relationship with Brendan Rodgers

About Contract & Injury

"If a contract had been put in front of me in pre-season I would have signed it," 

"I'd just retired from England to concentrate all my efforts on Liverpool. I didn't want my club games to be tailored."

"My injury record had been fantastic for the past two and a half years and I had a great season from a personal point of view last season."

"It's all ifs, buts and hindsight now. That period between the summer and the end of November gave me thinking time."

"There's no blame and I'm not angry about it. There are other people in the squad and the club had other things to worry about."

"There is no finger pointing from me towards the manager or anyone else at the club."

About His Relationship with Brendan Rodgers

"I've got to be honest, that chat with Brendan came earlier than I was expecting," he added. "It was about a month before that he first mentioned to me about managing my game time.

"We had another chat on the subject recently - 10 days to two weeks ago. It was tough but I understood. It's been very amicable. Everyone knows how much I rate Brendan. Our relationship is very good."

"There hasn't been a cross word between us. Brendan has been fantastic for me. My only regret is that I didn't get to work with him at a younger age."

"Since I was 16, 17 years of age, the moment I come into work on a Monday morning my preparations begin to play 90 minutes the following weekend. That's the buzz. I've always worked hard all week to prepare and make sure my performance is right come the weekend."

"When it gets to the stage where you don't know if you're going to be starting or not it becomes different. I've never wanted to be a squad player. If I was missing games now, I'd be sitting out even more next season. I knew it would get worse and worse as time went on."

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Steven Gerrard : About His Career in Liverpool

"The memories and experiences I've had over the past 26 years I wouldn't swap for anything in the world," the Englishman commented to the Liverpool Echo following Friday's news.

"I'm a very lucky boy and I am also proud of what I've given back - the sacrifices, the dedication and the loyalty. Liverpool Football Club have been unbelievable for me since I was eight years old.

"This club has helped me fulfil my dreams over and over again. I enjoy a very strong relationship with Liverpool Football Club and I don't see that coming to an end. I hope to serve the club again one day.

"There's been huge pressure and responsibility on me but I've always loved and embraced that. I've never seen that as a burden.

"It's been a massive honour to be captain of this club for so long and it will be right to the end. I'll be a Liverpool fan to the day I die. I've lived my dreams."

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