Steven Gerrard to Liverpool: Former captain rules out playing return to Anfield this season
THe LA Galaxy midfielder wants to rest before the start of the next MLS season
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Your support makes all the difference.Steven Gerrard has ruled out a playing return to Liverpool or any other club, insisting that he intends to rest ahead of next season’s MLS.
The LA Galaxy midfielder has been widely linked with a move back to Merseyside after speaking with the club’s new manager Jurgen Klopp, who is open to the former club captain training with his first-team squad at Melwood.
However, the midfielder has now seemingly put rumours of an incredible Anfield return to bed, claiming that now he has retired from international football, he has no reason to leave the United States.
I need to get some rest because I’ve got a very long season ahead next year...
“I’ve retired from the national team so I don’t have to go and prove myself in Europe,” Gerrard told Eurosport International.
“I need to get some rest because I’ve got a very long season ahead next year, so it’s very important I come back strong, rested and ready to go again.”
The Liverpool-born Gerrard recently holidayed in the city following the end of LA Galaxy’s MLS season and watched his old club’s defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield two weeks ago.
In a pre-match press conference before Saturday’s evening kick-off against Manchester City, Klopp confirmed he had spoken to Gerrard during the midfielder’s short stay but said that he had not trained with the first team.
“He is a really, really good person. I enjoyed our time together and we spoke about many things,” Klopp said of the pair’s meeting.
“He doesn’t want to play next week or train next week – he wants to enjoy his holiday.
"If he wants to train, of course, he can, no question. He can use Melwood and then go back to LA and train and play.”
While speaking to Eurosport, Gerrard outlined that his target for next season is to win a trophy with LA Galaxy.
“I think it’d be fantastic to win the league over here but it certainly wouldn’t make amends for finishing second three times,” Gerrard said.
"They were very frustrating and disappointing moments and experiences I’ll never forget. But certainly the plan and the target for me, and the dream, is to try and become champion in the USA.”
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