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Liverpool - Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling to sign a new contract with the club as he prepares to make an emotional final bow at his beloved Anfield.
Gerrard will play the last home game of his 17-year senior career on Saturday against Crystal Palace before he joins Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy when the season ends.
And speaking at a farewell press conference at Liverpool's Melwood training ground on Thursday, Gerrard implored talented forward Sterling to put pen to paper on a new deal with the Reds at the conclusion of the campaign.
Sterling's future has come under scrutiny ever since he shelved contract negotiations in March and the 20-year-old revealed in an interview that he rejected Liverpool's offer of a new five-year deal worth £100 000-a -week.
Gerrard, 34, himself came close to leaving the Merseysiders for Chelsea only to remain with his boyhood club, and he believes Sterling's development as a player will be enhanced under Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
"I think he should sign a new deal here. It would be the best for his career," Gerrard said.
"That's something I can't control but the young lads here have got no better manager to learn off because Brendan Rodgers is a fantastic man-manager, he puts a lot of time and effort into every individual player in the squad.
"My advice to Raheem is, where he is at now with his age, he needs a manager who believes in him, who is going to play him, to coach him. I think there is no one better for him than Brendan.
"The danger for younger players is they want it all too soon, they chase it, and go to another club and just become a number. They don't get that attention, love or care."
