Steven Gerrard has agreed a new Liverpool contract that runs beyond his 33rd birthday and is likely to mean he ends his career at Anfield. Team-mate Dirk Kuyt has also agreed a new two-year deal with the club, who last month secured the services of manager Rafael Benitez until 2014.
Gerrard, who turns 29 next month, had two years to run on his previous deal but has now committed to the club until the end of the 2012-13 season, by which time he will be 33 and nearing the end of his career. "This is fantastic news for the club," Benitez said Friday. "Steven has once again shown his commitment and it was an easy deal to agree. As soon as we offered him the option he said yes. There were no problems at all. He wants to stay for life.
"This deal sends out another clear message that we are moving forward as a club. To know we have a player of Steven's quality with us for many more years is a great boost for the club and the fans. "He is clearly a player who inspires those around him and even though he is playing very well at the moment, I still think his best years are ahead of him."
Gerrard's decision to sign a new deal followed last month's announcement that Benitez had committed himself to the Liverpool cause until 2014. New contracts for most of the Spanish manager's backroom staff have followed and a number of other first-team players, including Jose Reina and Daniel Agger are expected to be presented with new contracts in the coming weeks.