Premier League: Gerrard coy on new deal after proving worth
LEICESTER CITY 1 LIVERPOOL 3
CAGEY Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard admitted he could still walk away from Anfield after inspiring his side to a comeback victory over bottom of the table Leicester City at the King Power Stadium last night.
The recalled Gerrard fired the visitors into the ascendency after Adam Lallana cancelled out an own goal by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, while Leicester captain Wes Morgan saw red before Jordan Henderson’s late clincher.
Gerrard’s future has been a hot topic since he was left on the bench for Saturday’s clash with Stoke City, and the 34-year-old was subsequently forced to deny a rift with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
The Northern Irishman has since confirmed that Gerrard has been offered a new deal at the club although he remains free to sign a pre-contract agreement elsewhere in January, and the ex-England captain remains tight-lipped on the progress of negotiations.
“I’ll decide when I’m ready,” said Gerrard. “There is nothing to say on the contract at the moment. When there is, the fans have known me long enough and I will come out and say what I need to say. It’s not about me, it’s about a great team performance and a great three points and that’s what the headlines should be.
“It has been well-documented this season that we haven’t been good enough but we’re on our way up. We’ll keep moving forward and come the end of the season we’ll put in a great fight for fourth place.”
Liverpool’s evening started inauspiciously when a casual clearance from under-fire stopper Mignolet gifted veteran Esteban Cambiasso a gilt-edged opportunity, which the former Argentina international guided wide from 25 yards.
The hosts surged into the lead moments later when Leonardo Ulloa’s strike from a tight angle rebounded of the post and into the net via the back of the unfortunate Mignolet.
The Reds were behind for a matter of minutes before Lallana drilled his 50th league goal beyond Kasper Schmeichel from Rickie Lambert’s headed knockdown.
No Englishman has scored more Premier League goals in 2014 than Gerrard and the rejuvenated midfielder, playing in a more advanced role, rifled home his 14th strike of the year after a Raheem Sterling cross was diverted into his path by a stretching Morgan. The Leicester captain was shown a straight red card for hauling down Lambert before Henderson sealed maximum points seven minutes from time with a close-range finish from Sterling’s back-heel.