Gerrard wants title bid next year

Steven Gerrard says he expects to finish his career at Liverpool but is desperate for the side to challenge for the Premier League title.

The midfielder has repeatedly been linked with a move, and the club have dismissed as "fantasy" last week's reports of a bid from Inter Milan.

Gerrard said: "I cannot see myself ever leaving Liverpool now."

But he added: "I do not want to look back and say I have never been in a title race."

Gerrard has played in two Champions League finals with Liverpool, lifting the trophy in 2005, but the side have again failed to keep pace with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal in the Premier League.

"We are disappointed we did not maintain a challenge in the league for longer than we did"
Steven Gerrard

"I cannot see myself ever leaving Liverpool now, and what I would dearly love is to lead this club to the next level that I believe we are capable of reaching," he told the club's website.

"I have won trophies here but there is one I am missing and I want that before I finish playing.

"I do not want to look back and say I have never been in a title race.

"I can see that the team is getting stronger and stronger and I can see that we are going forward. I feel that we are getting closer and I really believe that."

Liverpool have secured fourth place and Champions League qualification, but Gerrard is keen to see more players arrive over the summer to strengthen the squad.

"We always say this every year but it will be an important summer because we need to keep the momentum.

"The manager's signings will be important as they always are. I have been lucky as a footballer and I've won more things than most players, but I am greedy because I always want more.

606: DEBATE
Who should Liverpool try and sign in the summer?
"I want to win as many trophies as I can with Liverpool. That is why the summer is important.

"We are a young team with a lot of promise and if the manager can get the right support then we could take an important step forward.

"We are disappointed we did not maintain a challenge in the league for longer than we did. The points gap between us and the top two is not particularly pleasant viewing for anyone here at Anfield.

"The boss is on record as saying he wants some players and if we get some of the ones he wants, and if they can have the same impact that guys like Fernando Torres, Martin Skrtel and Ryan Babel have had...

"Their performances this season have seen us take a step forward. But I think there is a hell of a lot more to come from us."

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Premier League
Football on the BBC
Your say - 606
Radio Five Live commentaries
BBC Sport club pages
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites