24.06.2005 - Parry 'hopeful' of keeping Gerrard

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Rick Parry has insisted that there is no need for fans to panic over Steven Gerrard's future, with contract talks between the player and club yet to begin.

Gerrard has less than two years remaining on his current contract, and is due to discuss an extension to his current deal when the players return to pre-season training.

"There is nothing new about Gerrard. We're happy we want Steven to stay and hope he's going to stay, and there's no cause for concern on our part," Parry said, speaking on Sky Sports News following the Champions League draw.

He added: "We've always said we hope Steven's going to be with us, we want to win trophies and Steven wants to win trophies."

"Captaining us to win the European Cup, as we've said, was a pretty good step in the right direction."

Liverpool will be hoping that a contract has been signed by the start of the Champions League qualifiers, to avoid a repeat of the situation which they found themselves in during Michael Owen's contract negotiations last summer.

Having failed to sign a contract, Owen was forced to sit on the bench for the entire first leg in Graz ahead of a possible big money transfer, to avoid him becoming cup tied and therefore lowering his value.

With Liverpool's Champions League campaign set to begin on July 13, Rick Parry will hope that the issue of Gerrard's Liverpool future has been concluded by that date.