End of the Affair

Justin Palmer

Months of speculation that the Liverpool captain had outgrownAnfield, where he started as a trainee in 1998, were confirmed yesterday when the England midfielder said he would leave.

His decision to quit the clubjust weeks after a stunning European triumph had once seemed inconceivable.

"The last six weeks have been the toughest of my life and the decision I have come to has been the hardest decision I have ever had to make," he said yesterday.

While his precise destination remains unknown, it appears to be only a matter of time before Chelsea increase the offer reported to be £32 million (47m) which was rejected by Liverpool yesterday morning. Gerrard's agent Struan Marshall informed Reds chief executive Rick Parry of the 25-year-old's decision to snub a £100,000-a-week offer, which would have made him the highest paid player in the club's history.

"I've got absolutely no intention of ever going to play at another club," Gerrard stated in April 2002.

"He is supposed to be a boyhood Red," said Les Lawson, spokesman for the Liverpool International Supporters' Club. "As far as I am concerned he is not. He has turned down £100,000-a-week; I am still paying off my credit card bill from going to Istanbul to cheer him on and thousands of Liverpool supporters are the same."

While Liverpool struggled to hang on to the coat tails of Arsenal and Manchester United in the Premiership, Gerrard matured into a player of immense value.

The five-time European champions were close to losing Gerrard to Chelsea 12 months ago, only for the midfielder to change his mind about walking away.

Gerrard's change of heart at the time was widely reported to be down to the appointment of Spaniard Rafael Benitez and a renewed belief that the club could challenge consistently for trophies.

After his man-of-the-match performance in the May 25 final against AC Milan, in which he scored Liverpool's first goal, he was still upbeat about his future at the club. "How can I leave after a night like this and all the nights this season?" he said.