Gerrard 'should play on like Giggs'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes Steven Gerrard could play on into his late 30s after the captain inspired his side to a 2-1 win at Aston Villa.

The 32-year-old England skipper completed Liverpool's comeback at Villa Park with a 60th-minute penalty and then produced a crucial goal-line clearance to prevent Christian Benteke from equalising.

Rodgers revealed Gerrard needed a pain-killing injection in his heel in order to play, and said it was a mark of his commitment to the club.
 
"Steven is a remarkable man. Look at his fitness level, and his running ability. He has been like that the majority of the season," Rodgers said.
 
"He had to get an injection in his heel to play. We had an issue with his heel for a couple of days.

"He is just a real inspirational man, a top, top player, whose hunger and desire for Liverpool to succeed is incredible.
 
"I can't speak highly enough of him. As a guy coming from the outside who has watched him all my life, to actually work with the man is a huge pleasure and privilege."
 
Rodgers confirmed offering Gerrard a new contract was on the agenda and said he could see the central midfielder playing on for several seasons.
 
"Can Gerrard play on into his late 30s? Absolutely, no question," he said.
 
"Guys who do that like (Ryan) Giggs, (Paul) Scholes, (Gary) McAllister, it is not what they are doing now, it is what they have done earlier in their careers, when they were 17, 18, 19, 20."
 
Gerrard's winning penalty arrived on the hour, after Benteke's first-half opener had been cancelled out by Jordan Henderson in the early stages of the second half.
 
Defeat left Villa in the bottom three but manager Paul Lambert said he was convinced that victories were just around the corner.
 
"For 45 minutes we were excellent, we competed brilliantly, we looked a threat every time we went forward against a really good side," he said.
 
The goal two minutes after the restart was disappointing to lose. But we are playing well enough to win games. We are four points from 11th place. There's going to be some twists and turns."