Sunday 30 November 2014 13:53, UK
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has insisted there was nothing sinister behind his decision to drop captain Steven Gerrard for their win over Stoke City.
Rodgers put his 34-year-old midfielder on the bench for Saturday's Premier League game at Anfield and afterwards said he had not realised it was 16 years to the day since Gerrard made his Liverpool debut against Blackburn Rovers.
"I wasn't aware it was 16 years since his debut until I got into the changing room and saw the programme," Rodgers said.
"I felt quite bad when I looked at the programme - there was about 20 pictures in there of him!
"But Steven's a player who is very much a team player, and a great guy and always plays a part."
Rodgers confirmed that talks with Gerrard's representatives over a new contract are ongoing with the Liverpudlian's current deal set to expire in June 2015.
He brought Gerrard on against Stoke with 15 minutes to go and Liverpool clinched a 1-0 victory thanks to a stooping header from right-back Glen Johnson five minutes from time.
Rodgers afterwards insisted the rationale behind dropping Gerrard to the bench was the need to manage the club talisman's playing time and not anything else.
"Steven's at the stage of his career where he's not going to be playing in every game," Rodgers said.
"He obviously played in the last two against Crystal Palace and against Ludogorets. He put a huge amount into those games, and we have other players here who can do a job. Steven understands that.
He also admitted that he would continue to discuss with Gerrard in which games he will be rested as he rotates his squad.
"Every player would love to play in every minute of every game," Rodgers explained.
"The reality is at this level, with how competitive it is, we can't just be relying on Steven in every single game.
"He's been brilliant in my time here and will continue to be. Between the two of us we talk and we look at when he can play and when he can't.
"We need to look at each game, and position the players in the team who we think can get a result."
The victory over Stoke was Liverpool's first win during November, easing some of the pressure on Rodgers, whose team are 11th in the Premier League table, 16 points behind leaders Chelsea.
