Gerrard craves league glory

Midfielder fears career 'disaster', while Carra voices concerns

By Peter Fraser   Last updated: 7th September 2008

Steven Gerrard Liverpool Middlesbrough Premier League Football

Gerrard: Eager for honours

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard fears his career would be a 'disaster' if he did not win the Premier League title before hanging up his boots at Anfield.

Gerrard skippered the Reds to UEFA Champions League success in Istanbul in 2005 and has also won the FA Cup, Uefa Cup, League Cup and Uefa Super Cup during his time on Merseyside.

However, the 28-year-old is desperate to add the English top-flight crown to his winners' medal haul.

Liverpool have not won the title in 18 years and Gerrard is eager to address that statistic before he retires.

"The memories of Istanbul will go to the grave with me," Gerrard told Liverpool's official website.

Explode

"There isn't a day goes by that I don't think about it, but I want more memories. I want to get on another open-top bus and see another million people on the streets of Liverpool, acclaiming the league title.

"The city will explode if we win the league, and I don't want it to happen when I'm retired. I'm 28 and realise the years are flying by.

"In November I'll have been a first-teamer for 10 years and yet it seems like I only made my debut two or three months ago, I've enjoyed it that much. I want from 28 to 35 to be even better, and I feel my best years are ahead of me.

"I don't want to retire and have just Istanbul and a couple of FA Cups to remember. It will be a disaster, personally, if I don't win the league here."

Meanwhile, Gerrard's club colleague Jamie Carragher has revealed concerns over the structure of Liverpool's hierarchy.

Controversy

The Reds' American co-owners George Gillett and Tom Hicks caused controversy last season after admitting they had held discussions with Jurgen Klinsmann with a view to the German replacing current manager Rafa Benitez.

Gillett and Hicks also confessed they had limited knowledge of Klinsmann, and Carragher feels Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish should be handed a role within the club's hierarchy to aid decisions.

Carragher, writing in his autobiography printed in the News of the World, said: "What worries me about Hicks saying he'd never heard of Klinsmann is this: what happens when we do need to appoint another manager?

"Liverpool fans will shudder at the idea of names being checked on the internet.

"If Kenny was on the board, the owners would be able to ask his advice in the knowledge he has a grasp of what supporters here expect."

Prem 2008/09 Win Outright: Liverpool 10/3