Alberto Moreno
Alberto Moreno Reuters

Sevilla's Alberto Moreno has played down his reported switch to Liverpool in the summer transfer window.

The 21-year-old defender has been linked to the Reds all summer long. It was even reported that a fee had been agreed and his arrival was imminent.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has been busy this transfer window with Southampton striker Rickie Lambert and Bayer Leverkusen's Emre Can having already completed their moves to the Merseyside club.

Moreno had a good season with Sevilla helping them win the Europa League title by beating Benfica in the final. The Spanish international who was left out of Vicente del Bosque's World Cup squad has played down the speculation regarding his departure.

"All I will say is that I have four years to run on my contract with Sevilla; I am only focused on playing and matters regarding my future are being handled by my father and my agent," Moreno said.

"I have been a Sevillista since I was a boy, I have grown up at Sevilla and the whole of my career in football has been spent here. I'm happy at Sevilla and once we return to work (on 7 July), we will begin preparations for August's [European] Super Cup final against Real Madrid. We're confident that we can beat them," the Spanish defender said.

Meanwhile, Reds captain Steven Gerrard, who is on World Cup duty with England, has been showering praises on compatriot and club colleague Jordan Henderson.

The former Sunderland player, who was initially criticized, has impressed one and all with his performances this season for Liverpool.

"He's got energy to burn. He's a great athlete. And he does the dirty work as well as the more attacking stuff," Gerrard told the Daily Mail.

"He's improved his all-round game to build on the fact that he's a great athlete - his short passing, his long passing, and he's getting his name on the score sheet from time to time, setting a few up too.

"He's very grounded. He's in the gym every day, he doesn't drink; he wants to be a top professional," the Reds skipper added.