Steven Gerrard Calls on Liverpool Owners to Hand Brendan Rodgers New Contract

Steven Gerrard has urged the owners of Liverpool to offer their manager Brendan Rodgers a new contract, fearing Europe's giants may come calling for his services.

David Maddock of The Mirror writes that the England captain has warned that some of Europe's top clubs will pursue Rodgers, especially as the Welshman has less than 12 months to run on his current deal.

Maddock quotes Gerrard saying:

"

I am absolutely delighted he is here and I just hope that there is a lot of movement in Boston now, because they have got to get him signed up as soon as possible.

When players are in this situation with a year to go and you want to keep hold of them so desperately, then the club reacts really quickly and gets it sorted. 

For me, I think he deserves a very long contract here and he is perfect for this club.

"

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Gerrard's words are a great endorsement of Rodgers and the work he has done at Anfield since arriving from Swansea City.

Liverpool's performance this year is arguably the story of the season. The Reds have scored an amazing 76 Premier League goals this term, per Squawka, and they recently destroyed champions Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.

Yet it was only last year that Rodgers was not universally backed by Liverpool fans. The Merseysiders finished seventh as the Northern Irishman took time to stamp his footballing beliefs on his players.

Sports journalist and Bleacher Report lead football writer Sam Tighe tweeted:

There is no doubt that Rodgers has transformed Liverpool from a sleeping giant into viable title contenders once again, but now the objective must be solidifying their position in the top four over the next few years.

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There is still a genuine threat from both Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, who will both invest heavily in their squads to claw back the gap between them and the Merseysiders.

Rodgers might not have their comparably large funds at his disposal, so he must find a way of retaining his big players. If Luis Suarez departs anytime soon, it is questionable whether Rodgers could assist in maintaining his team's current form. 

The temptation to manage elsewhere might also present itself.

Steve Bates of The Mirror recently reported that Barcelona could make a move for Rodgers should they sack current coach Gerardo Martino. With Rodgers already a Spanish speaker, and the quality of football his team is playing, the Catalan giants would see him as a perfect fit. 

Liverpool's owners must listen to Gerrard's words and offer Rodgers the appropriate deal to reward his achievements, or they will risk losing arguably their greatest asset.