Hodgson is confident that Gerrard will continue playing for Liverpool. The former Fulham boss was extremely pleased with the way those talks went, with reports continuing to link Gerrard with a move away from Liverpool, possibly to Real Madrid.

"I think they went splendidly," he told LFC Weekly.

"I was very happy to meet the players and, of course, Kenny who I already know so well.

"I was delighted to see how positive they are. Everybody is looking forward to the new season."

Hodgson is in no doubt that retaining Gerrard and Carragher is absolutely vital to the Reds' chances of success in the coming season.

"Obviously Steven Gerrand and Jamie are the playing heartbeat of the club and it's very important we keep people like that with us," he added.

"I anticipate there might be a situation where other big clubs will try and sign Steven, but he gave no indication that he wanted to leave.

"Nobody at the club wants him to go so I will be doing my utmost to make sure he stays. I am confident he will."

Liverpool's change of sponsor this year to Standard Chartered meant that there would be two new Liverpool strips this season - and we can't decide which one we like more!

The new Liverpool Home Kit is in our famous red, whilst the away kit is white with red pinstripes.

Both are on offer at Red Hot Football - the soccer specialists.

Fernando Torres believes Steven Gerrard is one of a select group of players capable of dominating the World Cup.

He rates the Liverpool skipper among the world's best and believes he could single-handedly lead Fabio Capello's men to glory.
Dangerous

"There are maybe five players at the World Cup who can win a big game on their own - Stevie is one of them," Torres said in the Daily Express.

"He's in the same league as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, that's how good he is.

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Steven Gerrard has fired a warning to Atletico Madrid ahead of their visit to Anfield on Thursday, insisting "we're up for it".

Speaking after hitting a brace in a 4-0 rout over Burnley the Liverpool captain has issued a rallying call ahead of the Europa League clash with the La Liga heavyweights, despite Rafael Benitez's side currently a goal behind from the first leg.

Gerrard conceded that the loss of Fernando Torres to injury had dented the Reds' confidence but feels that today's hammering of the relegated Clarets will have provided a welcome boost ahead of the semi-final showdown.

He said: "I can guarantee that the players are up for it and we need to leave every bit of sweat and blood out on that pitch on Thursday night; we can’t wait for it.

"There’s been many, many occasions when we’ve had our backs against the wall and people have doubted us but we go into games believing that we can win and will be doing everything possible on the night.

"I think it was important that we scored a few goals today, won convincingly and hopefully the fans are really positive going into Thursday.

Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez believes talismanic captain Steven Gerrard could return in Saturday's clash at Fulham.

The England midfielder has not featured in the Premier League since suffering a groin injury while on international duty earlier this month.

He did start in Liverpool's 2-1 UEFA Champions League loss against Lyon on 20th October, but had to be substituted after only 25 minutes following tightness in his groin.

He is definitely out of the Carling Cup clash against Arsenal on Wednesday - which is being shown live on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports HD2 at 7.45pm - but Benitez is hopeful he can return for the Premier League game at Craven Cottage.

Benitez told the club's official website: "Gerrard will not be available for this game but he is improving, so hopefully he can be ready for Saturday."

Liverpool came as close as they have done in many years last season to finally winning the Premier League title. But the Reds' drought in lifting the league crown still stretches back to 1990.

Few would deny that it was captain Steven Gerrard and striker Fernando Torres who were instrumental in the Merseyside club coming within a whisker of beating Manchester to the league crown last term.

Both, however, suffered injuries in the first-half of the season and veteran centre-back Jamie Carragher believes that should the duo remain fit, the club will once again be very close to finishing on top.

"No other team in England has a partnership like Gerrard and Torres," Carragher told the club’s website.

"It's strange to be talking about Stevie as a striker now but that's what he's become, and in that position, just behind the main forward, there is no one better," added Carragher, ambitiously.

"In fact, there is no better strike pairing in the world than Gerrard and Torres. They can tear defences wide open in a split second.

"When you have that kind of ability in your team, it gives you incredible belief. If we can keep them both free of injury, then we are going to take some stopping. There were times last year when we went into games without them and it showed.

"It was great to see them both sign new contracts this summer - they are the most important players in our team.

"If they stay fit and continue to improve, then I think we will go very close. We all hope this will be our year, but we'll have to play as well as we did last season and turn the draws that damaged us into wins.

Steven Gerrard has been included in a shortlist for the UEFA Club Player of the Year award.

The Liverpool captain is one of twelve players in the list for the prestigious award which will be presented in a ceremony on August 27th (when the Champions League group draw is also made).

The award is decided by the votes of the managers of the final 16 teams in last season’s Champions League competition.

Gerrard has already won the award before, receiving the honour for the 2004/05 season when he triumphantly lead the Reds to Champions League glory in Istanbul.

The previous winner of the award was Christiano Ronaldo, playing for Manchester Utd at the time.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed that he is desperate to claim the league title with the Reds and has insisted that finishing top of the pile would mean the world to him.

The Merseysiders begin their new campaign against Tottenham Hotspur this afternoon, with their star man admitted time is running out for him to add a Premier League winner’s medal to his collection.

“I'm desperate to get that photo of me with my teammates holding the Premier League trophy,” he told the News of the World.

“It does play on my mind how many years I've left to win it. I've turned 29 now, so I know time isn't on my side, but it's important I don't get obsessed by it.”

Rafael Benitez’s side will be hoping to build on last season’s second place finish and their skipper revealed what it would mean to him and the city of Liverpool to end the season as champions.

“You have to go into every new season prepared to do all you can to make it happen and I genuinely believe we can do it. This city would absolutely erupt if we did,” he explained.

“But because of the gap since we last won the title, if we achieve it, it would be bigger than the Champions League. Everyone at the club knows that and that's one of the incentives for doing everything to win it because we've seen what that kind of success means to the fans, and the players.

Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is still unsure of Steven Gerrard's availability ahead of the club's first game of the season, which is against Tottenham Hotspur.

The Reds travel to White Hart Lane on Sunday to kick off their new Premier League campaign, with their star man struggling with a groin problem.

'Rafa' believes the game being scheduled as the latest of the opening weekend does give Gerrard a chance to play, however.

"I am not sure about Steven," Benitez said, according to Sky Sports News.

"I was really pleased he was pulled out of the England squad as a precaution.

"With our game on the Sunday, then maybe Steven will have a chance. If it was on Saturday it would be more difficult."