Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is delighted for Steven Gerrard as he prepares to make appearance no500 for the club.

Ian Callaghan holds the all-time Liverpool record of 857 games and that is unlikely to be beaten by Gerrard, but he is now just 20 short of Kenny Dalglish's tally for the club.

Benitez said: "To play 500 games is a massive achievement for any player, especially at the same club.

"He has reached this stage by showing the same passion and commitment for many years. His loyalty to Liverpool is to be praised, few players do what he has done for his local club.

"Steven is a key player for us, the kind of player that can make a difference in a game.

"We have some important players but Stevie is one of those that, when he is playing well, the team can win any game. It doesn't matter if the other players aren't playing well, he can win a game for you with one special moment.

"Steven is capable of doing this for you. But you cannot win trophies with just one player, You need a team behind that player. But if you have a good team, players like Gerrard can make the difference.

"He's set very high standards but, of course, cannot play at the same level all the time. That is why he needs the team to be playing well with him.

"But by putting other good players around him he can be the best and you can be sure of winning more games."

He added: "When I moved to Liverpool he was one of the players I knew could help us.

"If you have quality in your players you know as a manager that you can do more with them. You can always improve players but it's not always easy when they are already at a very good level.

"Stevie was one of those players but I think he is better now because he has been learning for years.

"He has learned under different managers but for the past five years we have been talking a lot about different parts of his game and how he could improve. He has always been willing to learn.

"He is always learning and knows the game much better now than when I first came to the club."