Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers plans to start Steven Gerrard only half of their games this season to keep him fresh for the title run-in.

Rodgers' swoop for Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Emre Can is being seen as a way to ease the workload of Gerrard.

Rodgers now plans talks with his talisman about his personal rotation to cope with Liverpool being involved in the Champions League for the first time since 2009 besides three domestic competitions, says the Daily Mail.

Gerrard is expected to retire from international football to protect his body and Rodgers may set a limit of 30 starts for Liverpool to ensure he lasts the distance this season.