LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, November 8, 2015: Liverpool's former captain Steven Gerrard during the Premier League match against Crystal Palace at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Liverpool hold “productive” talks over Steven Gerrard return

Liverpool’s legendary former captain Steven Gerrard is in advanced talks with his former club over a coaching position at Anfield, according to a report on Wednesday.

Gerrard’s spell in America with LA Galaxy came to an end this week, with the 36-year-old spending 18 months with the MLS club.

Talk has immediately switched to his next career move, and it appears as though a return to his old club is on the cards.

According to Goal‘s Melissa Reddy, Gerrard “has enjoyed productive talks with Liverpool over a coaching position, but has made it clear he wants a meaningful role rather than a symbolic one.”

This is refreshing to hear, with the legendary midfielder well aware that his stature in the game should not just be enough to earn him a job.

It is reported that Gerrard has spoken with Academy director Alex Inglethorpe about developing youngsters, with those talks now thought to be in their latter stages.

A youth coaching role would allow the ex-Reds skipper to hone his coaching skills rather than be thrown in at the deep end.

It would also mean him working alongside his former coach Steve Heighway – a figure he has always spoken highly of, having worked with him during his youth team days.

STOKE-ON-TRENT, ENGLAND - Sunday, May 24, 2015: Liverpool's captain Steven Gerrard applauds the supporters as he walks off after his final game for the club, a 6-1 defeat to Stoke City, during the Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Gerrard has other offers on the table, including a potential link-up with former managers Rafa Benitez and Brendan Rodgers, at Newcastle and Celtic, respectively.

Rodgers played down the rumours on Wednesday, saying:

“Players coming into the club I never speculate on. With regards to Steven, he’s been an incredible player. I had a number of years with him at Liverpool when he was absolutely brilliant for me.

“It’s that time of the year now, we’re getting towards the January window, Stevie’s time has finished out there at Galaxy, so there’s speculation about where he might go.

“Of course there’s a natural look at Celtic because of the size of the club, it’s a club he admired, and I’ve got some of my former players here working with me. But we always keep our business behind closed doors.”

It would be a travesty if arguably Liverpool’s greatest ever player did not return to the club in some capacity, though, given his wealth of knowledge and leadership qualities.

Should a return to Anfield not materialise, which at the moment seems unlikely, it is only a matter of time before Gerrard is back where he belongs one day.

He made 710 appearances for Liverpool in a 17-year spell there, winning the 2005 Champions League and six other major pieces of silverware.

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