EPL: Steven Gerrard tells Raheem Sterling to stay at Liverpool

Liverpool Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling to sign a new contract with the club as he prepares to make an emotional final bow at his beloved AnfieldSteven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling PicsAFPGerrard will play the last home game of his 17year senior career on Saturday against Crystal Palace before he joins Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy when the season ends And speaking at a farewell press conference at Liverpools Melwood training ground on Thursday Gerrard implored talented forward Sterling to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Reds at the conclusion of the campaignSterlings future has come under scrutiny ever since he shelved contract negotiations in March and the 20yearold revealed in an interview that he rejected Liverpools offer of a new fiveyear deal worth pound100000 157480 138567 euros a week Gerrard 34 himself came close to leaving the Merseysiders for Chelsea only to remain with his boyhood club and he believes Sterlings development as a player will be enhanced under Liverpool manager Brendan RodgersI think he should sign a new deal here It would be the best for his career Gerrard said Thats something I cant control but the young lads here have got no better manager to learn off because Brendan Rodgers is a fantastic manmanager he puts a lot of time and effort into every individual player in the squad My advice to Raheem is where he is at now with his age he needs a manager who believes in him who is going to play him to coach himI think there is no one better for him than Brendan The danger for younger players is they want it all too soon they chase it and go to another club and just become a number They dont get that attention love or care The outgoing Liverpool skipper who is set to play his final game for the club away to Stoke City on May 24 will end his last season at Anfield without another medal in his collectionHowever the clubs supporters will still celebrate the career of one their most revered players Avoid the tears Liverpoolborn Gerrard acknowledged his final match at Anfield is one he had not been looking forward to but that he would attempt to keep his emotions in check as he prepared to wave goodbye to the Kop I dont know what its going to be like come the end of the game said the midfielder Its the chance to say goodbye for realI have been dreading this moment at the end of the game in a strange way because I am going to miss it so much playing at Anfield in front of the fans with my teammates the former England skipper added I look back at it with pride really proud of what I have achieved here all the trophies I have won and the great memories Ive had It will be emotional the plan is to stay strong and try to avoid the tearsGerarrd has already been touted as a future Liverpool manager although he maintains he would only ever return to the Merseyside club in that capacity if he felt he was up to the job I have got ambitions to stay in the game I am taking my UEFA coaching badges and looking to progress up that ladder he explained To take a role at this club you have to be good enough You cant take one on reputation or nameThe demands and expectation here are so high you would be naive to take one just because you are Steven Gerrard or because youve had a good career on the pitch If in a couple of years time when Ive been out of the city for a bit if there is a role on offer where I think I can contribute and be good enough I will certainly consider it Ive been coming to this club since the age of eight and I do feel I can contribute in a role in the future