Steven Gerrard reveals Brendan Rodgers' decision to use him as a squad player convinced him to leave Liverpool

Gerrard will join LA Galaxy in the summer after 15 years with Liverpool because he is no longer a guaranteed starter

Steven Gerrard scored the equaliser as Liverpool's Champions League hopes faded (GETTY IMAGES)

Steven Gerrard has revealed the moment when he realised he was going to leave Liverpool after losing "the buzz" to play when Brendan Rodgers decided he would no longer be a regular starter in the first team.

Gerrard will end 15 years with the Merseyside club when he joins LA Galaxy in the summer once his contract with Liverpool has expired, and he has revealed that it was the idea of being a squad player that persuaded him to move on to pastures new despite his status as a Liverpool hero at Anfield.

Rodgers has shown a tendency to rotate Gerrard with the idea that he cannot play every minute of every game like he has done throughout his career, and despite retiring from international football following the World Cup in order to prolong his club career, he will move to the MLS in the summer.

"I think the signs this year were that I'm going to become a squad player, play less," said Gerrard, speaking at the 5Times Liverpool Former Player Association Gala Dinner.

"I'm going to come on as a sub and the buzz changes.

"For me, I go to work on a Monday morning and I look forward to Saturday, to prepare to go to battle with some wonderful people - with good mates - and that's my buzz.

Gerrard will leave Liverpool at the end of the season (Getty Images)

"When a manager gets you into the office and says that's going to change and it's going to become more limited - that's when you make your decision.

"It's not a selfish thing; coming on as a sub's just not the same buzz so things have changed this year."

It was perhaps this different “buzz” that he feels coming off the bench that caused him to get sent-off after just 38 seconds for deliberately stamping on Ander Herrera during the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United in March. It’s also why he chose not to sign a new contract extension with the Reds in order to move across the Atlantic and follow in the footsteps of David Beckham and his former Liverpool team-mate Robbie Keane.

Gerrard was sent-off 38 seconds after coming on against United (GETTY IMAGES)

Gerrard is also looking forward to spending time with his family in LA given that the majority of the public will have no idea who he is, unlike his mass following in Liverpool.

"It lets you give a little back to your family," he added.

"You step out of the city, you breathe for a bit, you enjoy your kids and you go to a place where you are going to enjoy it.

"I think the league's going to be good, I can still start games and I can still enjoy it."