Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers says Steven Gerrard is a genuine modern day great.

Despite criticism in the past about Gerrard not performing in an England shirt Rodgers believes now is the time to start truly appreciating the inspirational midfielder.

"Players of that ilk come around very rarely," said the Northern Irishman. "I think he is a player that supporters should really make the most of the years he has left.

"He still has a number of years left, don't get me wrong, but this guy has quality.

"You saw him the other night when we were playing Swansea and the game was flat in the first half.

"He dons his Superman cape, comes on and changes the whole dynamic of the game. That is what great players do and this is one of the modern greats of the game.

"What is even more of a pleasure to see is how he devotes his life to it.

"He is 32 and he wants to learn. We are looking at videos of his game to improve him and that has to come from him.

"That is self-motivation and a self-drive to be better.

"He is not settling on everything he has had in his career, he is wanting to improve and he is an incredible talent who is a real pleasure to work with.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again, he's an iconic figure for this football club."