Last Updated: Sun, 18 Mar 2012 07:45
Kenny Dalglish says Steven Gerrard will not be hanging up his boots for a long while and expects him to play well into his late 30s.
The midfielder, who has had his problems on the injury front, showed what a talisman he is for the club as his hat-trick helped the Reds to a 3-0 win over Everton in midweek and Dalglish says he will be around for a while yet.
Gerrard is approaching his 32nd birthday but if he can stay injury-free and continue to look after himself off the field then Dalglish believes he can follow in the footsteps of Ryan Giggs at Manchester United.
"Whatever is going to happen, while he is here he will be a fantastic asset for us - and Stevie will look after himself because all the lads know how to look after themselves these days," the Anfield boss told the Daily Mirror.
"If anybody wants to be a player at that age there is an important role to be played off the pitch as well as on it.
"Stevie can play wherever he wants. We know he is going to be here, giving us the best service he is capable of giving anybody like he has done so far and we'll go along with that and manage Steven as well he manages himself, and who knows what can happen."
There have also been suggestions Gerrard could call time on his international career after the European Championships this summer and that would further boost Liverpool's chances of him prolonging his club career.
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