Liverpool 'must retain priceless star Steven Gerrard with new contract' says Jordan Henderson

Liverpool have been urged to pull out all the stops to keep captain Steven Gerrard at the club by his midfield partner Jordan Henderson.

Though manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed a new deal has been offered to the 34-year-old midfielder, Gerrard is yet to accept the terms of the contract, leading to concerns over his long-term Anfield future.

The skipper has failed to recapture his best form this season and was dropped from the start for the home win against Stoke City before marking his return to the Liverpool first team with a goal in the 3-1 win at Leicester City.

And vice-captain Henderson – who has been able to experience first-hand Gerrard's importance to the Liverpool cause since joining the club from Sunderland in 2012 – says the club must move heaven and earth to keep the skipper.

"I hope he stays on for as long as he can and then even after that really, I hope he stays at the club as long as he can," he said.

"For me, he has been the best player for a number of years, not just for Liverpool but in the Premier League, and I think he still is. Hopefully we keep him because he is a massive player for us and a great leader.

"Everyone has a lot of respect for him in the dressing room. He leads by example. He is a top player, but he is also a top person.

"The lads feel they can go to him with anything and he will always help them out and put them first. That is massive as a captain.

"Everyone gets on really well with him. With the aura that he has got he could be a different person but he is very grounded, very humble.

"We can go to him and he will help us out with anything he possibly can and that is priceless.

"Then he puts in performances like that [against Leicester]. He is our leader, he is a role model to us all. If he was to go, he would be a massive loss. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

"Liverpool without Steven Gerrard is unimaginable. Nobody wants to lose him and I'm sure the club don't as well."