The Reds boss says the England captain is in the same category as Ryan Giggs and insists he has never thought about replacing him since taking over at Anfield

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed captain Steven Gerrard will be offered a new deal with the club.

The 32-year-old has spent his entire career at Anfield, but his current contract expires at the end of the 2013-14 season.

But Rodgers believes his skipper still has much to offer, and is backing him to play on for many more years.

“Steven has a year left and that is something he and I are about to discuss,” Rodgers told reporters.

“Then, I will take things through to the board upstairs.

“There is no doubt that Steven is a player who has given so much to the club – but he has also got a lot more to give.

“It just emphasises how selfless Steven is that is hasn’t wanted to talk about a contract because his focus has been on the team and ­improving his own game.

“But, obviously, I want him to know that he is very much a part of what we are doing here and a new contract is something we will look at between now and the summer.”

Rodgers believes Gerrard’s longevity and achievements at one club put him in the same bracket as Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs.

“Steven is in the same category as Giggs purely ­because of his professionalism,” he insisted.

“Players that go beyond a certain age have looked after themselves since they were 19 or 20. It’s not by accident.”

The Reds manager believes the ex-Chelsea striker can gain from observing the Premier League’s leading scorer, who attracted more attention this week for an on-field incident

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that 23-year-old striker Daniel Sturridge can learn a lot from team-mate Luis Suarez, despite the controversy the Uruguayan creates.

The Premier League’s top goalscorer was caught in the midst of another on-field incident this week, as he appeared to hit Chile defender Gonzalo Jara.

However, Rodgers believes that the on-field talent of the striker compares favourably with that of any of the other great strikers the club have had in their ranks.

“For me the striker drives the train, and when you look at the history of this club, men like Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Robbie Fowler worked incredibly hard,” the Liverpool boss told reporters.

“Luis does that too. He is a great leader, the way he presses up there. He has an absolutely amazing appetite for the game.

“Daniel’s only just come to the club and it’s a new way of working for him. But it’s so important because when you don’t have the pressure up top, the gaps open up.

“He’s only 23 and knows he needs to improve, but he’s a real receptive boy, and he can’t have anyone better to learn from than Luis.”

The Liverpool striker appeared to clash with Chile’s Gonzalo Jara while on duty for Uruguay but his coach insists that he has not seen footage and refuses to discuss it

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has brushed over Luis Suarez’s entanglement with Gonzalo Jara while on international duty, claiming that he has not yet seen the alleged punch.

The forward appeared to aim his fist at the defender’s face during Uruguay’s 2-0 victory over Chile in World Cup qualifying and could face Fifa sanctions, but the Reds boss was unwilling to comment on an issue which he feels has “no great relevance” to his own job.

“I always say to players I’ve got a very simple rule, that when you’re with Liverpool, just talk about Liverpool,” Rodgers told a press conference. “When you’re away with your national teams, just concentrate on your international team and there’s no drama.

“So what he says when he’s away with Uruguay or what the England boys say is very much about England, is of no great relevance to Liverpool.

“I haven’t spoke to Luis yet. He was obviously back yesterday and later on in the afternoon, and we just ran the medical team over him.

“He was training this morning, so no I haven’t spoken to him.

“Obviously, every time Luis goes away there’s always something but all I’m aware is we’ve got an outstanding football player who’s given everything for the club and is very happy here.”