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Steven Gerrard has admitted to being “surprised” by the departures of Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh from the backroom staff at Anfield.

The exits of assistant manager Pascoe and first team coach Marsh were announced last Friday, in the same week it was confirmed that Brendan Rodgers would continue as Liverpool manager next season.

That followed an end-of-season review conducted by club chairman Tom Werner and FSG executive Mike Gordon after Liverpool finished a disappointing sixth in the Premier League and failed to progress out of their Champions League group.

Gerrard said: “I was surprised Brendan Rodgers made changes to backroom staff at Liverpool. I will be interested to hear his reasons why.”

Sources have suggested the changes to the backroom team at Melwood were done with the mutual consent of Rodgers, Werner and Gordon.

Gerrard was unveiled today as a new pundit for BT Sport as they take over Champions League coverage next season, joining former Liverpool colleagues at the channel including Steve McManaman, Michael Owen and David James.

Gerrard also spoke about Raheem Sterling at the launch and insists staying at Anfield would be in the 20-year-old’s best interests.

“I hope Raheem stays. For his development, as a player and as a human being. He's got a fantastic manager to look after, a great set of team-mates.

"I think it's important he plays week in week out, keeps trying to learn and strive to become a world class player. We'll have to wait and see.

"The frustrating thing for me would be if he went to another team and was just a squad player.

"I think there's a position there for him to be the number one player in the Liverpool team and really have that adulation from supporters that the likes of Luis Suarez and Fernando Torres have experienced.

The Liverpool legend also believes things at Anfield are not as bad as many fear and is confident Liverpool can still compete next season.

"I don't think problems at Liverpool are as big as people are making out. I think there's a fantastic core of players there that, with the right additions in the staff and playing staff, I think Liverpool can be very competitive next year."