Gerrard will get rest for World Cup

Paul Walker

The Reds captain is expected to sit out certain club matches, to keep him in shape for peak times during the campaign, and new signing Mohamed Sissoko is a ready-made replacement for whenever Gerrard is rested.

Gerrard's hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over TNS further cemented the peace deal which has been reached with those Liverpool supporters who were incensed by his initial decision to leave Anfield, before being pacified by a second about-turn in successive summers.

Liverpool are now almost assured of their place in the second qualifying round of the Champions League and a likely trip to Lithuania.

Even before Wednesday night's match, Gerrard had been given assurances over how the club will nurse him through what could be almost a 12-month season if England reach the World Cup final.

"I have already spoken to the manager and the coaching staff and they have told me they are not going to be using me all the time," said Gerrard.

"I am sure I will be playing the same amount as all the other international players and I will be really fresh by the time the World Cup comes around."

Liverpool could play over 70 matches this season, should they do well on all fronts, but Gerrard played just 43 games last term, culminating in that memorable night in Istanbul when the 25-year-old held the European Cup aloft.

Such a heavy workload might cause concern for England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson ahead of next summer's finals in Germany.

But £5.6million man Sissoko provides youthful energy in midfield, and he can expect to be used both in tandem with Gerrard and occasionally in the captain's place.

Gerrard brushed TNS aside and then turned his attention to the real target of a better league finish.

Liverpool finished 37 points adrift of champions Chelsea in the Barclays Premiership last season, and they hope to close that gap markedly or even overtake Jose Mourinho's side.

"I'm happy my future is sorted out, and the manager is buying players that are improving our squad," said Gerrard, who signed a four-year deal last week.

"It is getting better and better and he has great ideas that are improving the team.

"We want to win trophies, we want to win the Premier League and we are getting a team together that can do that, we have a better chance this season.

"The manager was disappointed with the position last year, like the players and the fans were.

"The idea was to strengthen over the summer and I am sure he will bring a couple more in and the idea is to make up that big gap from fifth to the top.

"All the boys have been working hard and hopefully we will have bit of luck on the injury front, which we did not have last year, and we can close the gap."

Any doubt in the Anfield crowd about Gerrard's commitment was soon banished with his complete performance against the Welsh side.

Gerrard and his colleagues have now embarked on their training camp in Switzerland.

They will be away for 10 days but a squad will make a flying visit home for Tuesday's away leg against TNS, to be played in Wrexham, before returning to Switzerland.

They second qualifying round opponents are likely to be Lithuanian side Kaunas, who won their first leg 4-2 at Faroe Islanders, Torshavn.