'Stevie is still trying to improve'
Brendan Rodgers today paid homage to Steven Gerrard as he prepares to make his 600th Liverpool appearance – and revealed the captain remains as hungry as ever to improve even further.
The 32-year-old will notch up the milestone if, as expected, he appears in Sunday's Barclays Premier League clash with Newcastle United at Anfield.
Tributes have already begun to pour in for Gerrard - and on Friday afternoon, Rodgers became the latest to wax lyrical about the Huyton star.
He told a pre-match press conference at Melwood: "He's been brilliant since I came in. He's 32 years of age, captain of the England team and he and I are still looking at ways to improve his game - and that is a big mark of respect to him because he's achieved many things in the game.
"We're looking at videos, analysing his game one to one and looking at areas he can improve - I think that says everything about him, about his mentality and his willingness to want to improve.
"I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's an iconic figure for this football club and hopefully on Sunday he gains that 600th appearance.
"He, along with the likes of Jamie Carragher, are the great stalwarts of this club.
"I think he's still got a lot left in the tank because of his motivation. Mentally he wants to achieve and physically he's looking very good at the moment."
Despite the fanfare that will surround Gerrard on Sunday, the skipper will in no way be sidetracked as he aims to help Liverpool get back to winning ways following the midweek Capital One Cup exit to Swansea City.
The Reds have won just one top-flight game on home soil this term - a statistic Rodgers insists everyone within the camp is determined to change.
"I think there have only been three victories [at Anfield in the league] over the course of the year," he said. "It's something we want to improve. We tend not to want to look back so much and try and look forward.
"We've had difficult games this season at home and been unfortunate not to have won more of those in the league.
"As of late, that performance level has picked up and we've looked solid from behind. Our game in terms of our passing and moving has been very good. We just need to continue with that.
"We know it's going to be a tough game against Newcastle. I respect every team that comes to Anfield - it's a big moment in their careers and always has been over many years. That doesn't change because of the history and support of the club.
"It's up to us to rise to the challenge of every team that comes. The young players are getting great experience and hopefully we'll maintain that and keep going forward."
Liverpool and Newcastle clashes, particularly at Anfield, have previous when it comes to conjuring up classic matches and bagful of goals.
Rodgers, though, will happily take a 1-0 victory over a 4-3 thriller.
"The most important thing for us is to win the game," continued the Northern Irishman. "In the league, we've picked up in terms of our focus and our game and clean sheets have been excellent.
"For us, it's about winning the game. You can't always guarantee it's going to be perfect, but the most important thing at the end of it will be to perform well.
"I believe if we play as well as we have been in the league and perform and pass to that level, we've got a great chance of winning the game. That's important for us, how we play. We carry that confidence in and we've got a great chance with the supporters behind us at home."
Rodgers was also keen to offer words of praise for Newcastle boss Alan Pardew, whom he worked with in the early stages of his coaching career at Reading.
He explained: "Alan was terrific. When I was at Reading as a young coach, he was a manager that really encouraged me. I tried to do things a little bit different and maybe not go down the same route as a lot of coaches in terms of methods and ideas of how I wanted to work.
"He could have very easily quashed that, but he didn't. He encouraged it. He did a terrific job at Reading as a manager, has progressed on and now he is doing a brilliant job with Newcastle.
"I've got a lot of time for Alan. He won Manager of the Year last year, and rightly so. He's made a real good impact at Newcastle and it's good to see."
Meanwhile, Rodgers has confirmed Liverpool will check on the fitness of Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson ahead of the Magpies' visit.
He said: "Pepe Reina and Glen Johnson are still receiving treatment. Glen is out on the pitch, so we'll see how he goes over the next couple of days. Pepe likewise.
"We can't rule them out at this stage, but can't say that they're fully fit as of yet. Apart from that, the rest of the group has been good."