Liverpool veteran Jamie Carragher is hopeful fellow Anfield legend Steven Gerrard will follow his example and remain with the club for the rest of his career.

The 35-year-old Carragher is in the final few months of his professional career and has urged team mate to extend his contract, which expires in 2014, and finish his playing days with his boyhood club.

Steven Gerrard
Reuters

"I'm sure Stevie will sign a contract and finish his career at Liverpool the way I've done. There is no doubt about that. I'm sure he'll sit down and sort it out in the next couple of months," Carragher told Sky Sports.

Brendan Rodgers has already confirmed the club will open talks with Gerrard over a new deal. The England international and captain of both his club and country, will be 33 years old at the end of next month.

However, despite his age, Gerrard continues to be the driving force of the Merseyside club and was Man of the Match in the weekend's 2-1 Premier League win over Aston Villa; Gerrard scored the winning goal from the penalty spot after a foul on Uruguayan international Luis Suarez.

"He is 'captain fantastic' every week. It's not just against Villa. He's been doing it for years, scoring at one end, saving at the other," Carragher added.

The win over Paul Lambert's men means Liverpool remain in seventh in the league, five points behind Arsenal, who hold the last qualifying position for European football next season. Failure to progress to at least the UEFA Europa League, never mind the Champions League (Chelsea, in fourth, are seven points ahead) could be disastrous for Rodgers' re-building project at Anfield.

"I don't really look too far ahead and to be honest if you asked most of the lads, they wouldn't even know what position would get us into Europe. Sometimes it is fifth spot, sometimes sixth, seventh. We just will try and carry on and win games and see where it takes us," Carragher concluded.