Gerrard feeling better than ever

Liverpool’s talismanic midfielder Steven Gerrard insists he is still as good as ever after recovering from a lengthy lay-off with a groin injury.

Gerrard has missed a huge part of the Kenny Dalglish revolution through injury, and there had been suggestions that his surgery had not been successful and that he was unlikely to return as the same player he was before.

But Gerrard dispelled any thoughts to the contrary by declaring himself back to his best.

“To be honest it gets to the stage with me that if there are no rumours about my private life or my football it’s not normal,” Gerrard told The Liverpool Echo.

“I’m used to it all. I’ve heard the whispers – Gerrard is finished and he’s not going to be the player he was.”

“I can’t worry or concentrate too much on what fans or people in the press are whispering to themselves. I can’t control all that. If people believe that’s the case then they will be in for a surprise.”

“Hearing stuff like that doesn’t give me any extra motivation. The motivation for me is to captain this team to a successful season. I’m looking to come in, strengthen the squad and push on with the lads to hopefully have a good year.”

Gerrard will be coming back into a Liverpool side that now boasts a formidable midfield with the summer additions of Charlie Adam, Jordan Henderson and Stewart Downing, but has brushed off suggestions he will have to reinvent his game now he is the wrong side of 30.

“I’ve had a good rest. Of course I didn’t want that rest but I’m sure it will help me because I’ve played non-stop football since I was a young lad.”

“That’s the way I see it when I’m 35 or 36 but I’m only 31.”

“There will be no reinvention. I’ll come back the same player as I was. I still feel I’ve four or five years at the highest level.”