Steven Gerrard admitted he was overwhelmed when he first glimpsed the huge flag in his honour held up high on the Kop prior to the game against Chelsea in January.

The Liverpool skipper has been edging closer to fitness out on the Melwood pitches ahead of Sunday's FA Cup quarter-final clash with Blackburn Rovers.

Gerrard has not featured for the Reds since limping from the field with a hamstring problem during the team's 3-2 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on February 10.

Two weeks prior to that game, supporters had unfurled a giant banner for the captain before the Capital One Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea.

Cast in red and white with a towering image of the iconic midfielder, its message reads simply: 'The best there is, the best there was and the best there ever will be.'

Gerrard, who had been made aware of the tribute prior to the game, spotted the banner during the warm-up - and for a moment found it hard to control his emotions as he swelled with sheer pride.

"It was a surprise and it choked me up when I saw it," the 34-year-old told Liverpoolfc.com. "The size of it and the message on it - it tells me I have been doing a decent job over the years.

"I got my card marked [about it] a couple of days before. Someone text me, so I sent [the lads who made it] a shirt and a big thanks to them.

"You just have to look at the company that it's in. You see flags of Suarez, Shankly, Fowler, Benitez, Carragher and all the legends who have been here over the years.

"So to get in amongst that company with a big flag is a really proud moment for me.

"But I'm not finished. I want to continue to make the people proud; the people who make these flags and all the other supporters out there as well."

The gesture was prompted by the captain's announcement in early January that he will depart the club in the summer to join MLS outfit, LA Galaxy, and bring an astounding 17-year Anfield career to a close.

At Melwood last month, Gerrard was shown the flag by the group of Reds who helped produce the tribute - and afterwards, the skipper took to Instagram to express his gratitude.