LONDON • Steven Gerrard believes that he could have been lining up against Manchester United in a Liverpool shirt for the 36th time today if the club had offered him a coaching job at Anfield.

Gerrard, 35, who ended his 26-year association with his home-town club to join the Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer, revealed that he was "surprised" that no offer of a backroom role was forthcoming.

His desire to become a manager is well documented. But Brendan Rodgers turned to Sean O'Driscoll, Pep Lijnders and Gary McAllister when he revamped his coaching staff in June.

"What would have kept me at Liverpool into this season was the chance of shadowing Brendan Rodgers and his staff as well as playing. Those ideas were only mentioned to me after I had announced I was leaving," Gerrard told the Daily Mail.

"Liverpool replaced coaches Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh in the summer, so they were looking for a new No. 2, or No. 3 or No. 4. I would have been tailor-made to fill one of these roles, as well as making myself available as a squad player, getting management experience that money can't buy."

He added that he would have been willing to accept a reduced playing role at Anfield, despite being ever-present in the Liverpool midfield for 17 seasons.

"I could have been a good squad player, a good sub," added Liverpool's longest-serving player. "I was surprised a role wasn't mentioned when chief executive Ian Ayre sat down with my agent but, maybe, it might happen one day."

REUTERS