Galaxy-bound Gerrard urges Sterling to stay at Liverpool

Departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling not to follow him out of the Anfield exit.

The 34-year-old has two matches remaining of a 17-year career with the Reds before he leaves for a new challenge at the Los Angeles Galaxy, and is set to play his final match at Anfield against Crystal Palace on Saturday evening.

His departure is certain but there is far less clarity around the future of 20-year-old England forward Sterling, who is set to consider his options in the summer after rejecting a £100,000-a-week deal earlier this season.

Gerrard believes the decision should be a simple one.

"For me, I am always going to be biased towards this club," he said.

"My advice to Raheem is he needs a manager who is going to play him, to coach him, to believe in him. I think there is no one better for him than Brendan Rodgers.

"I think he should sign a new deal. Brendan is a fantastic man manager, he puts a lot of time and effort into every player in the squad.

"The danger for younger players is they want it all too soon and go to another club and just become a number."

Gerrard also expressed his hope that the club's owners Fenway Sports Group would back Rodgers in the summer transfer market.

"Every season, this club tries to add good quality players to challenge for the next season," he said.

"This season we have fallen a bit short but there is a fantastic core with huge potential.

"I am hoping the owners will back Brendan again and bring in that quality which will help us go that one step further next year.

"We have got close in two cup competitions and close to the top four and that is after losing arguably the best player in the world last year in Luis Suarez and also not having our star striker available all season in Daniel Sturridge.

"To come so close without those two I think we've done okay, but next season we can go one better."

Former England captain Gerrard hopes he can keep his emotions in check against Palace at the weekend.

Gerrard will lead his side out, and admits he has been preoccupied by how he will handle everything at the end of the game.

"I am looking forward to it, I want to win the game desperately and finish on a high at Anfield. Come the end of the game, it will be an emotional time," he said.

"I have been dreading this moment at the end of the game in a strange way because I am going to miss it so much, playing at Anfield. The aim is to stay strong and avoid a few tears.

"I am not really one for attention. I feel a bit sorry for my team-mates. All the attention is on me but when the whistle goes it will be about getting the three points.

"I can only apologise if it has all been about me. I have never tried to grab any glory. From day one I have always tried to pull in the direction of the team."

Gerrard admits his only regret is not winning the league with his boyhood club, having gone so close last season and in 2002 and 2009.

"I look back at it with pride. I am really proud of what I have achieved here, all the trophies I have won," he said.

"Certainly not winning the Premier League is a dent in that. There is nothing I can do about it now but 708 appearances is a lot more than I ever dreamed of."

He was asked how he felt about being regarded as the club's greatest player.

"I don't think many players look at themselves at what they have done achieved or what the opinion is out in the open," he said.

"I have loved every minute of playing for this club and every single game I've tried to do my best.

"Other people have opinions of you or put you in certain categories and compare you to players before or players coming through but there's nothing I can do about that."