Gerrard - I could not leave

Steven Gerrard insists he could never consider leaving Liverpool after deciding to stay.

Gerrard made the dramatic U-turn to pledge his future to the club on Wednesday just 24 hours after asking to leave Anfield.

Chelsea were thought to be leading the chase for Gerrard after having a massive bid turned down on Tuesday.

However, after deliberating over the decision, Gerrard has now decided to stay with his boyhood heroes.

The 25-year-old revealed he is set to sign a new four-year deal with the European champions and hopes the deal will finally put an end to all the speculation regarding his future.

"I had the whole of yesterday to think about my decision and what I was doing. I turned off my phone and my television and went through it all in my head again," said Gerrard.

"After considering everything that's gone on, I just couldn't go through with it and leave this club.

"I never said I wanted to leave in the first place, but I'd felt I was being backed into a corner and had to push things on.

"I know it was going to look as though I wanted to go, but at one stage I thought I had no choice. When I thought about it more, I just wanted to stay.

"I admitted I've made mistakes and the club has acknowledged they've made some mistakes as well. But now we've sorted it out and I'm doing what I wanted to do all along, which is stay at Liverpool."

Gerrard is now looking forward to putting the whole episode behind him and lead Liverpool to a Premiership challenge this season.

"I've now apologised to Liverpool and they've apologised to me, which is important," added Gerrard.

"I was left feeling so confused yesterday. I was receiving all kinds of advice and information from so many people, but I just had to sit down with my girlfriend and advisor and think it all through again for myself. I was just thinking 'how have we got into this mess and what's the best way out of it?'.

" I knew I had to do what I'd intended doing all along and sign a new contract.

"I made the decision last night (Tuesday) that I couldn't leave this club. I love Liverpool so much. This is my club. My heart is with Liverpool. I don't need to tell anyone that.

"Everyone who knows me can see how I feel. The last thing I wanted to do was leave, I just couldn't do it."

The inspirational midfielder admitted the reaction of fans to a possible move had played a part in his decision to stay.

"My relationship with the supporters has always been fantastic and I knew a lot of people would be disappointed if I'd decided to go. I thought about the fans and the future," said Gerrard.

"As I'd said all along, I never wanted to leave. I don't want to go into details now about what happened over the last few weeks because the most important thing now is we can sort it out.

"I'm going to sign a new contract and, like I've always done, will be doing everything possible to make Liverpool successful again.

"It's been a bit of a mess but now we can sort it out and move forward. As I've said, we can all learn things from this.

"Now we all want to look forward."

Gerrard also disclosed that the new contract on offer would have no clauses included in it as has been suggested in some quarters.

"I'll be signing the deal, maybe even today (Wednesday). I'd also like it known there are no clauses in that contract," said Gerrard.

"This won't be happening again next summer or ever again, so far as I'm concerned.

"I've committed my long-term future to the club and I want all the speculation to end now. This is what I've wanted all along.

"I've only one medal left to win at Liverpool and that's the Premiership. That's what I want more than anything and Liverpool is the only place I've ever wanted to win it.

"I know there are some fans who'll be supportive and some who won't be. All I can say is it's been a difficult period for me, but I know I've made the right decision.

"In my heart, this is my club. I want to help bring success here for them and, for their sake and my own, I never want to go through this again."