Brendan Rodgers needs to explain Liverpool sackings, says former captain Steven Gerrard

Rodgers got rid of assistant manager Colin Pascoe and coach Mike Marsh

Brendan Rodgers (left) with Colin Pascoe (GETTY IMAGES)

Departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard says he was "very surprised" Brendan Rodgers' decision to get rid of assistant manager Colin Pascoe and first-team coach Mike Marsh.

The pair were sacked following an end-of-season review by Rodgers and the Liverpool hierarchy, with former Reds assistant manager Pako Ayestaran, ex-defender Sami Hyypia and one-time Manchester United coach Rene Meulensteen all been linked with the posts.

Gerrard, who was announced as a BT Sport pundit next season, will leave Anfield to join the LA Galaxy of Major League Soccer after a 17-year spell in Red.

"I was very surprised. I didn't expect there to be any changes in the staff positions," Gerrard said.

"I think Brendan (Rodgers) and the bosses have made those decisions and I'm looking in with a keen interest to see who he puts alongside him and how he tries to improve or strengthen his staff moving forward.

"A lot of names have been mentioned but I can't give you any insight or names because I'm now on the outside and don't have that relationship with Brendan any more where I might have got a bit of a nudge on it."

Steven Gerrard said goodbye to Anfield after 17 years (Getty Images)

The position of Rodgers remains safe following his review with chairman Tom Werner and Mike Gordon - president of club owners Fenway Sports Group - but he has been left in no doubt improvements have to be made after last season's sixth-place finish.

"I think Brendan will obviously have felt he needed to make some changes and freshen certain things up in his staff.

"I am very interested to see who he puts in alongside him and also to hear Brendan speak in a press conference to see why he has decided to make those decisions."

Additional reporting from PA