New Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson says he is confident Steven Gerrard will stay at the club, despite speculation linking him with a big money move to Real Madrid.
Hodgson’s first job as Reds manager is to convince the club’s big names to stay at Anfield, with Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano also linked with exits this summer.
And Hodgson says his initial talks with Gerrard have been positive.
“Obviously Steven and Jamie [Carragher] are the playing heartbeat of the club and it’s very important we keep people like that with us,” he told LFC Weekly.
“I anticipate there might be a situation where other big clubs will try to sign Steven but he gave no indication that he wanted to leave.
“Nobody at the club wants him to go so I will be doing my utmost to make sure he stays. I am confident he will.”
Hodgson is due to hold talks with Torres shortly after Sunday’s World Cup Final in South Africa in which Torres’ Spain play Holland.
