Rodgers rates Raheem's chances

Reports had suggested Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson was looking to retain Sterling for this month's World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Poland after giving the winger his first taste of the senior set-up by bringing him in ahead of last month's 1-1 draw with Ukraine, a game for which he ended up being an unused substitute.

The fact that Sterling has been named as part of the England Under-21s squad for their double-header with Serbia would appear to suggest he will not figure in Hodgson's group this time.

However, Rodgers has no doubt Sterling's performances for Liverpool this season have merited further involvement with the senior national squad, and has no concerns that if that does come about, he will not be handled the right way.

Speaking this afternoon at a press conference to preview tomorrow night's Europa League Group A home clash with Udinese, Rodgers said: "I'm always one for young players.

"Raheem has been brilliant. He is a real good kid who has stepped into the team and done exceptionally well.

"So in terms of whether he deserves a place (in the senior England squad), then of course - in terms of his performance level, he has been outstanding.

"Thankfully we have an England manager who has many, many years of experience and a wonderful group of players, so if he did get called up, he would be looked after I'm sure.

"I think with young players, we have seen so many times in this country top talents at 17 and 18 who have too much too young and pressure forced on to them too early.

"By the time they get to 21 or 22 everyone has forgotten about them. But Roy is a very experienced manager and I'm sure when he feels the time is right for him to come in and make an impact, he will do that."

Sterling is one of a clutch of youngsters who have impressed for the Reds this season, with 19-year-old defender Andre Wisdom and 18-year-old forward Suso also catching the ey e.

There has been talk of the trio being rewarded with new contracts and asked about the matter, Rodgers said: "I always believe you have to earn it, but there is no doubt that these boys have done well.

"It is something that we will look at over the next few months. There have been discussions between the club and representatives, but it is at an early stage."

Someone who has certainly taken note of the emerging young stars at Liverpool is Reds striker Luis Suarez, who knows he has an important role to play in helping them to keep progressing.

"They are all really good players and they are at Liverpool for a reason," Suarez told www.liverpoolfc.com.

"The form that Raheem has been showing and Suso the other day - they are showing us that they want to help the team.

"We so-called experienced players are always there to help them so let's hope that they continue to develop and don't just stand still but continue to prove exactly why th ey are at Liverpool.

"I think it should be us who are offering advice to them, telling them what they are doing well and not so well, and I think they do realise that they have to learn things from the older players."

Liverpool have midfielder Jonjo Shelvey back available for tomorrow's game.

Shelvey, who scored twice as a substitute in the Reds' Group A opener against Young Boys a fortnight ago, is serving a domestic suspension following his sending off in the Barclays Premier League defeat to Manchester United, but is still able to play in European matches.

Joe Cole could make his first-team return after a hamstring injury, but the contest looks to have come too soon for Jose Enrique (knee), while Martin Kelly (knee) and Lucas Leiva (thigh) remain sidelined.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have confirmed they have appointed Ryland Morgans - who previously worked at Rodgers' former club Swansea - as their new head of fitness and conditioning.

Gerrard still holds title ambition

The 32-year-old is confident he will play on beyond the end of his current contract, which expires at the end of next season, but accepts factors are loaded against him to win the championship.

However, having won every other major club honour since making his debut for his hometown club in 1998 it is not in Gerrard's nature to give up on a Premier League winners' medal.

"It is not easy and it is a frustration but it is life, it is football," the midfielder said.

"This is a very hard league to win and there are some fantastic teams about.

"There are thousands of other players in this league who have not achieved what I have achieved so I suppose they are in a similar position to me saying to themselves 'I haven't got a European Cup' - I've played in two European Cup finals.

"I have done an awful lot in the game and yes, the league has eluded me.

"Some of the games I look back on with frustration and regret are the ones we drew at home which cost us the title (in 2008/09 when they finished second, four points behind champions Manchester United).

"I'm not really one who looks back, I look forward, and I am never going to give up fighting for the title.

"But I'm realistic about where the team is at the moment and how much hard work and improvement needs to be done if we are to compete for it.

"Have I got the time on my side? No. Is it impossible? No. Let's just see how the next two or three years go.

"I know I am good enough to play in a side to win the league and I know I am a good enough player to win the league but sometimes stuff is out of your control."

Gerrard has been at the club since the age of nine and although he had offers to leave - twice turning down Chelsea - he has remained loyal to Liverpool, a decision for which he has been criticised.

"I have no regrets over the decisions I have made," said the England international at the launch of his ne w book My Liverpool Story.

"I am really happy I stayed. I am the captain of the club I love and this club means more to me than any other club out there.

"Of course I'd love a Premier League winner's medal and that may have happened if I'd moved clubs but would that league title mean as much to me as the other trophies I've won here? No - fact."

Since Liverpool ran United so close in 2009 the club's fortunes have taken a significant dip, having finished seventh, sixth and eighth.

That combined with the emergence of other clubs - with Manchester City's spending power winning them the championship last season - has made the Reds' task of regaining a top-four spot, never mind challenging for the title, even more difficult.

"It is no good us worrying about the power of Chelsea and Manchester City," said Gerrard, who believes the club is making positive strides since Brendan Rodgers took over in the summer.

"But there is no two ways about it, if there was no Roman Abramovich (Chelsea owner) or the guy (Sheikh Mansour) who bought Manchester City I'd have two or three league titles sitting here now.

"People who buy football clubs can have too much power for other clubs in the league and that is what has happened.

"We can't compete financially so we need to worry about ourselves and be the best we can be and see where we end up.

"We know what work we have to do ahead: it is going to be tough and other teams in the league as well as City, United and Chelsea are getting stronger.

"It is becoming more and more difficult to finish in the top four but I believe we have the squad and the manager in charge at the moment to certainly push for that and I am confident we can do it.

"If you look at our recent performances we are not far away at all.

"We've not had the results we deserve this season but it is a new set-up, it is not going to click overnight."

England to call on Sterling again?

Sterling has started Liverpool's last five Premier League games and has already become a key component of Brendan Rodgers' side. The Reds boss has already expressed his concern about Sterling being over-exposed by being fast-tracked through the international set-up.

England Under-21 boss Stuart Pearce reportedly wants Sterling for his Euro play-off against Serbia but Hodgson is eyeing Sterling's trickery to help him with a double-header against San Marino and Poland.

Arsenal and Finland Under-21 right-back Carl Jenkinson is also expected to get an England call-up after he postponed a decision on his international future. Glen Johnson's suspension for the San Marino clash could see Jenkinson given the call to compete with Tottenham's Kyle Walker for the right-back spot.

Aaron Lennon could also get a recall 18 months after he was last in an England squad and over two years since he last played in the 2010 World Cup.

Rodgers unsure over Sahin future

The Turkey international, who arrived late in August from Real Madrid, has taken a while to settle in but has scored three goals in his last two starts.

Sahin's improvement in form has come at the perfect time with Lucas Leiva still out injured and Jonjo Shelvey suspended.

But Rodgers insists it is still too early to make decisions on whether he wants to keep the 24-year-old or even whether Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho would let him go.

"I don't look beyond the loan period because there are lots of things which will determine whether he ever came here (permanently)," said the Reds boss.

"One has to be availability. Jose (Mourinho) may decide after one year playing he is really the type of player he wants around his squad.

"Two: He might not be affordable. Affordability is important as well.

"We'd all love Lionel Messi but whether you can afford him or he's available is another thing.

"All I can concentrate on is Sa hin coming in here and helping him become the best player he can possibly be.

"If he finds he enjoys it here and he fits into the way we work, which I am sure he would do because he is a good guy and understands the game tactically and is prepared to fight for the club, then that is something come the end of the season we will talk about.

"But at this stage it is way too early. He is just starting to get up to speed fitness-wise but what he is is a real good guy and you have seen his performances.

"He has a wonderful left foot and the ability to score a goal and he was the captain of Borussia Dortmund at a very young age so he's got those natural leadership qualities."

Liverpool's current captain Steven Gerrard insists he is not thinking about his long-term future just yet but believes he can play on beyond his current contract.

The 32-year-old signed a new deal in January which runs until the end of next season but he does not necessarily see that as a natural finishing point.

"We will have to wait and see," said the midfielder at a golf event for his charity The Steven Gerrard Foundation.

"I'm enjoying my football, I feel physically strong, and I want to go on for a long time yet.

"I love playing for the club, I love being the captain. It's living the dream, so to speak.

"I'm enjoying playing under Brendan Rodgers. The training is good, it's a very exciting time, and hopefully I can continue to play and to contribute under the new regime."

Reds keen to tie down Suso

Suso made his first Premier League start of the season in last weekend's win over Norwich after making his debut in last month's Europa League victory over Young Boys.

The Spanish schemer, who joined Liverpool in 2009 from Cadiz, was linked with a move away from Anfield in the summer before he made his breakthrough into the first-team in recent weeks.

Suso's current contract expires at the end of the season and Rodgers is keen to tie him down to a new deal having been impressed by the Spaniard.

"He's in the last year of his contract, and it's something we will look at," said Rodgers. "We did have a couple of offers for Suso in the summer, but I always said I didn't want him to go.

"I felt we had a very good young player so let's keep him here and we will see where he is in a couple of years. We had offers for him to go abroad but he was keen to stay, he understood he was going to get a chance here.

"He is tactically very good, strong technically with the ball. He makes things happen. I love that type of player. Talent finds space. He is a real talent.

"He is in the reckoning and he is a good kid as well. I have noticed a big progression in him from the pre-season tour of America - I have seen a real difference in the last couple of months and he has got a good appetite for the game.

"He is on the same page in terms of the tactical idea for the team. If his fight matches his talent we will have a very good player."

Pain in the knee for Enrique

The Spaniard picked up a knee problem prior to his side's Premier League opener against West Brom and has since struggled through two months' action.

But after a recent injection, the full-back is hopeful of a swift return to full fitness and is determined to prove his worth to new boss Brendan Rodgers.

"I don't know quite what the problem is but I have been playing with a lot of pain," he told Liverpool's official website.

"I had an injection in my knee so hopefully that will settle it down and allow me to find my form again because it is difficult playing with pain.

"It is something behind my knee and I have had to be very careful with it. I've been trying to play with it but it is not 100 per cent.

"I felt it in training before the opening day of the season at West Brom and since then it has been very bad. Hopefully the injection will sort it out.

"Obviously with a new manager at the club you want to be at your best, but I want to play to help us climb up the table. I want to get back as soon as possible."

'Silly boy' Shelvey says sorry

The Reds midfielder was sent off for a foul on Jonny Evans shortly before half-time in a highly-charged encounter at Anfield.

Twenty-year-old Shelvey aimed a verbal tirade at the United manager as he headed for the tunnel, feeling that Ferguson had influenced the decision by referee Mark Halsey.

However Shelvey, now serving a three-match ban, has revealed that he sought out the United boss immediately after the end of the game to offer an apology.

"I'm a young boy and I was frustrated because it was a big game," said Shelvey. "You come from a council house and before you know it you're playing Man United.

"Emotions probably got the better of me. I was a bit of a silly boy, for having a word with him like that. But I pulled him afterwards and apologised.

"Thankfully, he recognised that it took a man to apologise and hopefully there are no hard feelings there."