Steven Gerrard to leave Liverpool: 'Legend doesn't do Gerrard justice,' says Reds manger Brendan Rodgers

The captain has announced he will be leaving the club in the summer

Steven Gerrard and Brendan Rodgers (GETTY IMAGES)

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said that the word "legend" does not do Steven Gerrard justice, after the captain confirmed today that he will be leaving the club at the end of the season when his contract expires, ending a 26-year association with the Anfield side.

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"It is almost an impossible task to find the words to appropriately sum up Steven Gerrard and his importance to Liverpool," Rodgers said today.

"This is an era where the word 'legend' is vastly overused, but in his case it actually doesn't do him justice.

"From a personal point of view I will always have gratitude for the support he gave me, when I arrived here as manager.

Rodgers had spoken of a need in recent weeks to rest Gerrard, who will be 35 in May, in order to ensure that he is fresh when called upon.

"Steven came to see me and promised he would be 100 per cent behind me and do everything he could to help as we looked to introduce new ideas and a new way of working.

"He wasn't just true to his word, he vastly exceeded it.

"As a player he is immense and the influence he has on games should never be understated. At times he has carried this club on his back and in my time here he has always shown the ability that has rightly seen him be regarded as one of the world's best for well over a decade."

Gerrard won one Champions League, one Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups with the club in an illustrious 26-year career at Anfield.