Steven Gerrard: We Will Challenge For Trophies

Steven Gerrard hopes Liverpool will be able to close the gap on the top four this season and is looking forward to getting the new campaign underway, the Reds captain is also looking forward to resuming the rivalry with Manchester United.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side recorded their 19th Premier League title last season, edging one ahead in the long-running battle between the old foes.

With Liverpool owners willing to spend big after the aqcustion  of Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez last season and having recently signed England Under-21 midfielder Jordan Henderson in a £20million deal, Gerrard is confident the Anfield side can match United and suggested he wants to win more trophies before the end of his Anfield career.

"As a Liverpool fan and a player it's frustrating when you see your arch-rivals lifting trophies but you've got to give credit where it's due. They've won it, they've overtaken us," said the 31-year-old.

"Now the challenge for us is to equalise. We've got to make sure we've got a squad capable of going into the season and competing with Manchester United.

"It's a big statement by the club getting a big signing in early and now we're watching anxiously for a few more to follow. It's exciting times.

"It's important this team delivers very soon because we've been a number of seasons without putting a trophy in the cabinet and that's not what Liverpool is about.

"I want to play well, I want to score goals - but it's much more important that the team plays well and we all end the season happy."

Gerrard is currently undergoing a rehabilitation programme after missing the end of last season after undergoing groin surgery in March.

"I want to come back with a bang, I want to have a big season," Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.
"It's been non-stop football for me since I started when I was 17. I've never had a period of more than four or five weeks out of the game, so it's been nice to rest mentally.

"You don't want to miss games but when you're watching them it gives you that edge, that buzz to get back.

"I'll come back hungry and hopefully there's a very productive season ahead for me."

Jordan Henderson Joins Liverpool

Jordan Henderson has completed his move to Liverpool today, the midfielder has signed long-term contract at Anfield.

The Black Cats accepted an offer from the Reds earlier this week and allowed Henderson to head to Merseyside for talks, The midfielder has already joined the England Under 21 squad in Denmark ahead of the start of the European Championship this weekend.

Henderson is in line to face Spain on Sunday and will remain focused on international duty until later in the summer.

"I'm over the moon, overjoyed to be here and I'm really looking forward to it," he told the club's official website.

"Liverpool's definitely the place to help me come on as a player, and improve me. The club's going in the right direction and it can go as high as it wants."

Henderson is looking forward to playing alongside stars such as ndy Carroll and Luis Suarez, as well as captain Steven Gerrard.

Speaking about Gerrard he said; "He is one of the best players in the world, you want to be playing with him and training with him to try and improve yourself as a player."

"I've trained with him once (for England) and he was unbelievable, to be honest.

"I'm looking forward to it, and there are other good players here who can help me as well.

"Steven has been a massive, massive player for Liverpool for years now and he still is. Hopefully I can learn a lot from him.

"Coming to a massive club like Liverpool, there is always going to be competition.

"Hopefully I can keep working hard, keep improving, and get my chance on the pitch.

"There is a lot to achieve. It's a massive club and we've seen over the last few months how good they are.

"So I'm just coming here to learn and try to improve my game and I'm sure that along the way there will be a lot of happy memories.

"You come to a big club and you want to win things. Liverpool have won a lot in the past and hopefully there is a lot more to come in the future."

Liverpool confirm Gerrard's injury

Gerrard out for four weeks

Liverpool have been dealt with a injury blow that will rule Steven Gerrard out for up to four weeks, the midfielder suffered a hamstring injury last night while playing for England in the 2-1 defeat against France at Wembley. The skipper will have a scan later today, but after an initial assessment by Liverpool's medical team at Melwood training ground. It is thought that their captain will be sidelined for a month.

England and Liverpool had an agreement that Gerrard should only play for an hour, but after Barry was forced to come off and the England manager said he no choice but keep Gerrard on due to lack of senior players on the pitch and with Gerrard playing on longer than expected, he was forced to withdraw when he pulled his hamstring.

Dr Peter Brukner speaking on Liverpool TV said, "Steven injured his hamstring last night. He's just been in for an early assessment here and it certainly looks like a significant hamstring injury.

"He's just heading off for a scan as we speak and we should have the results of that tonight.

"He's going to be out for a little while, I'm afraid. I'd imagine it could be three to four weeks.
"
Fans were disappointed to see Gerrard play 85 minutes of the friendly match after an agreement with the FA was broke, but Dr Brukner remains philosophical about the situation.

"If you put your hand up to play for your country, you've got to accept how long they want you to play for," he said.

"There were obviously circumstances last night which came together to result in Steven playing for a bit longer than we'd hoped, which is disappointing but there's nothing we can do about that now.

"We'll move on and work as hard as we can to get him back playing for Liverpool as soon as possible."

Earlier in the day head of fitness and conditioning Darren Burgess posted a tweet slamming England's behaviour as 'disgraceful'

He also went on to add, "Unbelievable from all associated with England and English FA with regard to Steven Gerrard's injury. Completely ignored agreement and past history.
 
"Completely amateurish and now we pay for their incompetence. Absolutely disgraceful."

When speaking on the agreement with the FA & Liverpool, England manager Fabio Capello added, "We spoke with Steve and he said he would play one hour, but after Barry's injury we had some problems,"

"That was the reason he stayed on the pitch. If it's possible, the players will play the time we agreed with the club. admitted Capello.

"But Barry was really injured so we needed someone senior on the pitch because it was a really young team. He said he was good.

"They [Liverpool] asked that he can play one hour if it's possible. They can't decide how long a player plays with the national team.

"If it's possible, he'd have played an hour. I understand why they're upset and I'm also upset.

"The problem is that, when you play this game on Wednesday after a lot of Premier League, Europa League or Champions League games, it's possible there might be an injury for a player. The Premier League, every time, is a tough league for the players."

Steven Gerrard looking for quick success

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is looking for a quick route in bringing trophies back to Anfield as he enters the last leg of his glittering career, Gerrard at 30, believes he can continue at the top level of football at least four more seasons. but after recent failures in winning any trophies, Gerrard is looking to the new American owners to invest quickly so they can seriously challenge for honours.

Speaking to the News of the World, Gerrard said, "I think the Americans have got the right ideas to build a platform for this club for many years to come but, of course, when I speak to them, I'm going to be wanting a quick fix. I've got four or five years left at this level and I want to win trophies before I finish, because that's what I go to work for."

He added: "This club will be here for many years so I think the right thing is to build for the future, bring young talent in, sort the scouting system out from top to bottom and, in my opinion, merge the Academy and Melwood, where the first team train."

Rio Ferdinand retains England captaincy

Rio Ferdinand has been confirmed as England captain by manager Fabio Capello, Steven Gerrard had been given the job by Capello while Manchester United defender was fighting back to fitness from the injury which ruled him out of England's disastrous World Cup campaign. But now Ferdinand has regained full fitness, Fabio has decided that Rio should take the armband back. Gerrard captained England at the World Cup and the opening two Euro 2012 qualifiers in the absence of the injured Ferdinand.

"I spoke with Steven yesterday evening and explained why Rio will be captain against Montenegro," said Capello.

"He understood everything - he knows the rules. I have also told the players that Rio would be captain.

"I decided when I started as England manager who will be the captain and the vice-captain. The players understand why Rio is the captain, and after him Steve Gerrard, and after Gerrard another one.

"When I spoke with Steven I told him, 'you were a fantastic captain and you have to play like a captain tomorrow."'

FOOTBALL: Joe Cole on joining Liverpool

New Liverpool signing Joe Cole has been explaining his move to Anfield, Cole signed up to a £90,000 a week contract with Liverpool this week. Cole has spent his entire career based at London clubs, but has chosen to move north with Liverpool snubbing both Arsenal and Tottenham.

"I set myself a deadline to make a decision and when I made it I sent a text to Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow and Steven Gerrard and then turned my phone off.

Joe said, "I know I have made the right decision and I am looking forward to the challenge.

"This is a challenge for me. I have played in London all my life. I could have stayed at Chelsea because the fans loved me and I won things, but I wanted to challenge myself and when I knew Liverpool were interested it was a no-brainer because they are the biggest club in the country.

"This is a massive club. I tried to take everything out of the equation, take the financial and location side out and just thought in football terms.

"I thought about the semi-final of the Champions League in 2005 when I ran onto the field and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I was thinking about playing in that atmosphere every week and that swung it for me."