You'll have plenty to celebrate when you subscribe to the Liverpool FC newsletter Sign me up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Steven Gerrard has urged Liverpool FC’s owners to move quickly to get Brendan Rodgers tied down to a new long-term contract.

The Reds boss will enter the final 12 months of his current deal this summer and the skipper insists it’s time to reward Rodgers for transforming the club into title contenders.

The Northern Irishman recently confirmed talks over an extension had yet to start with John W Henry and Tom Werner expected to wait until the end of the season before addressing the issue.

However, Gerrard believes in the wake of Sunday’s emphatic 3-0 victory over Manchester United the timing is perfect to sort out his future.

“Brendan has been a revelation,” Gerrard said.

“From week to week he is helping us improve and get better and he has been an absolute breath of fresh air to this football club. I am sure the rest of the players would echo what I am saying.

“I am absolutely delighted he is here and I just hope that there is a lot of movement in Boston now because they have got to get him signed up as soon as possible.

“When players are in this situation with a year to go and you want to keep hold of them so desperately, then the club reacts really quickly and gets it sorted. For me, I think he deserves a very long contract here and I think he is perfect for this club.”

Gerrard says he has been “blown away” by Rodgers’ tactical expertise and man-management skills since his appointment as Kenny Dalglish’s successor in June 2012.

Having inherited a squad which finished eighth in the Premier League, Liverpool now sit second – just four points adrift of leaders Chelsea with a game in hand.

The 33-year-old midfielder is enjoying a rich vein of form and he credits the former Swansea City boss with improving him as a player.

“I would never judge a player or a manager or a member of the coaching staff before I have actually met them face to face and you see them day to day,” Gerrard said.

“I have been absolutely blown away by his sessions, his tactics and his maturity in the job and I am learning off him every single day.

“When you become a little bit of an older player you look to see how the manager does certain things and he has been fantastic for myself personally.

“He keeps tweaking and tinkering with the formation and making little subtle changes to personnel and tactics and it is coming off from week to week.

“He manages every single player differently, he knows we have different characters in the dressing room and his man to man, one on one management is the best I have known.

“He makes you go out on to the pitch feeling a million dollars – full of confidence and belief. He is a very confident manager.

“When you play for Liverpool you have to accept pressure, you have to take it on the chin and perform. But when you have got a manager who is making you feel good, but who is also not scared to give you a good one-on-one telling off as well, then he has the perfect ingredients.

“He is a young coach who has been there and earned the right to become Liverpool manager.”

As Liverpool’s players and staff celebrated in front of the away end after the final whistle on Sunday, the unity and camaraderie shone through. Gerrard says that’s something Rodgers has fostered.

“That starts from the top,” he said.

“The manager is very keen on team spirit and togetherness.

“When you are working together daily and trying to achieve things together, it is important you all stick together, have a laugh and enjoy it as you go along.

“But you can only get that togetherness, spirit and happiness when you do the dirty work and go the extra mile. That is what these players are doing for each other right now.”

Rodgers’ Liverpool are on the brink of ending the club’s five-year absence from the Champions League and fans are dreaming of title glory.

They have picked up 26 points out of a possible 30 since the turn of the year and momentum is growing.

Gerrard believes they cleared a significant hurdle with the manner of their resounding triumph at Old Trafford.

“As a team we have to keep making statements,” Gerrard added

“A lot of the so-called experts out there questioned us before the United game. They said ‘are we capable of coming to Manchester United and beating a good team?’ One that has been performing quite well of late besides the Olympiacos game.

“I think we passed the test and answered the question with flying colours.

“Not just that, but we went away slightly disappointed that this wasn’t a five or six goal thrashing because the way we performed from start to finish, with everybody in the team contributing, was magnificent.

“We have had our difficult times and at the moment we need to enjoy the way we are playing and try and continue it and get success. That is how we will eventually be judged.”

More Liverpool FC news:

Trio of Liverpool legends insist Reds can go on and win first title in over two decades

Liverpool fans' player ratings for the 3-0 win at Southampton

Molby: Neutral fans want to see Reds win the title

Reds analysis: how Brendan Rodgers beat Manchester United

Oliver Holt: Ex-ECHO man and Mirror columnist on how Liverpool FC and Man United are heading in opposite directions

Joe Allen on United win: "We won't ever forget this"