Gerrard delight at Liverpool deal

Liverpool FC captain Steven Gerrard has signed a new "long-term" contract with the Anfield side.

The 31-year-old's new deal includes a commitment to become a club ambassador on retirement from playing. It was agreed a day after the midfielder scored his 144th Liverpool goal in his 566th appearance, converting a penalty to earn a 1-0 English League Cup semi-final first-leg win at Manchester City FC.

Gerrard has been at Liverpool since he was eight, making his senior debut in 1998 and going on to win the 2005 UEFA Champions League – when he was the inspiration behind Liverpool's dramatic final comeback against AC Milan – the 2001 UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup twice plus two FA Cups and two League Cups. His individual honours have included being the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year in 2005, when he was third in the Ballon d'Or voting. Gerrard has also won 89 England caps, scoring 19 goals.

"I'm very happy," said Gerrard. "This is the club I love and is the club I have supported since I was a young boy. I am living the dream as the captain of one of the biggest clubs in the world. I love coming to work every day and the experiences I have had since I was eight years of age and first signed for the club, I wouldn't change them for the world. To extend that and to hopefully have some more good times in a red shirt is what I want."