Gerrard staying at Anfield

Steven Gerrard today ended speculation that he might leave Liverpool this summer by committing his future to the Anfield club.

The 24-year-old England midfielder, who signed a new four-year deal on November 11 last year, had been strongly linked with a switch to Chelsea during Euro 2004.

But Liverpool issued a statement this afternoon, revealing Gerrard’s intention to remain with the Reds giving new manager Rafael Benitez a huge boost.

The statement read: “Steven Gerrard has today quashed all speculation linking him with a move away from Anfield by pledging his future to Liverpool Football Club.

“The news will come as a huge relief to Liverpudlians everywhere who feared the club was set to lose the services of their highly influential captain.”

Gerrard was the key figure last season as Liverpool just managed to secure the fourth Champions League spot.

And Stamford Bridge chief executive Peter Kenyon has already confirmed that Roman Abramovich would be happy to bankroll the move for Gerrard.

Now Benitez will be hoping that Gerrard’s England team-mate Michael Owen, who had warned that losing Gerrard would be a “catastrophe”, agrees a new deal.

Owen, 24, only has a year left on his current deal, had been reluctant to commit himself to the club following a disappointing season.