Steven Gerrard is set to open new contract talks with Liverpool at the end of the season. The Guardian says the 28-year-old has two years to run on his current £110,000-a-week contract and, while talks have yet to begin on an extension, they are pencilled in for the summer when a new four-year deal is expected.

Gerrard suggested negotiations should swiftly reach resolution. The Liverpool captain has been in outstanding form playing a free role behind Fernando Torres in recent weeks, scoring in the four-goal routs of Real Madrid and United, with a hat-trick in Sunday's 5-0 demolition of Aston Villa.

He will follow Benítez in committing his future to the club, with both the long-serving Jamie Carragher and much coveted Torres also expected to agree new terms as Liverpool seek to tie their key performers to long-term deals.