Benitez insists best still to come from Gerrard

Rafael Benitez has backed Steven Gerrard to make at least another 200 appearances for Liverpool as the England midfielder prepares to turn out for his home town club for the 500th time.

Gerrard becomes the 13th Liverpool player to reach the milestone in Saturday’s Premier League match at Blackburn and the occasion prompted Benitez into a rare public expression of praise for the club captain.

“When Stevie is on top form, Liverpool can beat anyone,” Benitez said. “To reach 500 games for one club is remarkable. Usually good players don’t stay with one club. Bigger clubs with more money tempt them away.

“He is certainly one of the very best players I have ever worked with.”

At 29, Gerrard is still in the prime of his career and Benitez said he could still further enhance his reputation as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

“He has won a lot already in his career, but if we can win even more trophies with him, he will go down as one of the best players in history,” the Spaniard said.

“He is at a good age and is very professional. If we can keep him fit he can still play another 200 or more games for this club, hopefully at the same level he has shown for many years now.

“Steven is the kind of player that can make a difference in a game. We want him to keep doing that for another four years or so.”

Gerrard would have to play into his late 30s to have a chance of matching Ian Callaghan’s record of 857 Liverpool appearances but he is now just 20 short of Scotland legend Kenny Dalglish’s tally for the club.

Benitez added: “To play 500 games is a massive achievement for any player, especially at the same club.

“He has reached this stage by showing the same passion and commitment for many years. His loyalty to Liverpool is to be praised, few players do what he has done for his local club.”

Gerrard, who has only just returned to action following a groin problem, admitted he never thought he would reach 500 appearances when he made his debut, also against Blackburn, as a substitute 11 years ago.

“When you are such a young age you don’t look too far ahead,” he said. “It has always been drummed into me by my dad and my coaches not to look too far ahead.

“At that stage when I started out, a long career wasn’t even in my mind, because maybe you don’t think you’re good enough, or you dare not look ahead.

“You just want one game, then a few games, and you can’t start thinking you have made it. Not ever.

“I never dreamed I would get so many games, and it is a great feeling to hit that landmark.”

Liverpool head for Blackburn looking for three points to bolster their bid to get back into the top four and ensure they are playing Champions League football again next season.

And it is the chance to compete for the game’s biggest prizes that drives Gerrard on.

“As a player I never, ever think I am in the top this or that. Although I do have a confidence now that I am a good player, and that I can compete at a high level, but that’s it,” he said.

“Football excites me and the big prizes excite me even more for club and country. You want to win them all. I want to win what I can for Liverpool, and for England, and I’d love to look back at the end of it and feel as if I have achieved everything I can in that respect.”