Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is keen to continue his career beyond this season and concedes he may be forced to move away from Anfield if the club does not offer a new deal.
Gerrard joined the Liverpool Academy at the age of nine and is approaching 700 appearances in all competitions, but he is out of contract at the end of this campaign.
At age 34, he remains a pivotal figure in midfield, having played in all nine English Premier League matches for Liverpool this season, but he has doubts he will remain with the club beyond next summer.
“I can only worry about this season because I’m only contracted until May,” Gerrard said in an interview with the Daily Mail.
“As it stands at the moment, I’m here until the end of the season and want to make the most of it. I certainly won’t be retiring this summer. I will play beyond this season.
“We will have to wait and see if that’s at Liverpool or somewhere else. That’s Liverpool’s decision. If they don’t come, then I will see what’s out there.”
Gerrard also came to the defence of controversial striker Mario Balotelli, who has made an indifferent start to life at Liverpool with two goals in 12 appearances and none in seven Premier League matches following his summer move from AC Milan.
Among those to have questioned the Italian’s credentials is Gerrard’s old friend and teammate Jamie Carragher, who labelled Balotelli a “panic” buy following the departure of Luis Suarez to Barcelona over the summer.
“You have to respect Jamie’s opinion. He knows football, but it’s too early to get on Mario’s back,” Gerrard said.
"He just needs time to score the goals he needs to prove to people he is worthy of staying here. I am not going to judge him after 10 games. To come in after Suarez was always going to be a big ask and he's not feeling sorry for himself. He is working hard, doing extra shooting sessions.
“I’ve actually been impressed with the way he goes about his work. You hear all kinds of stories and rumours before you meet him, but he does all the work. I like the guy.”
Liverpool have no fresh injury concerns ahead of Saturday’s Premier League trip to Newcastle United.
Daniel Sturridge (calf) remains sidelined and coach Brendan Rodgers again will pick a replacement from Rickie Lambert, Fabio Borini and Balotelli.
Newcastle carry confidence into the match, having won their past three games, including a League Cup win over Manchester City, and manager Alan Pardew said he believes the club's new additions are settling in.
“When you pay a lot of money for players, the CV and the reputation and what they have done goes before them, to a degree, Remy Cabella and Moussa Sissoko when he came, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa to a degree,” he said. “But it’s difficult to come from international football. Sometimes there’s an adjustment.
“Now, without a shadow of a doubt, and I felt this even before we had these results, this is the strongest group I have had since I have been here.”
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