Brendan Rodgers: Liverpool already secured their best summer signing

According to the Reds boss, the club did not need to enter the transfer market to gain their most significant 'signing'…

While Premier League club Liverpool have been linked with moves for Newcastle United player Hatem Ben Arfa, Ajax star Christian Eriksen, Swansea defender Ashley Williams, Werder Bremen wide boy Eljero Elia and Valencia full back Aly Cissokho, it is the security of skipper Steven Gerrard's signature for an additional two seasons that is the biggest signing the Anfield club could make.

'His influence here is still at such a high level - the role he’s provided for me is so important,' said dynamic boss Brendan Rodgers to Mirror Football. 'I told the club in the summer that our biggest signing could be Steven Gerrard, because of the influence he has on everyone. It’s about his hunger to learn and the leadership that offers.

The lauding of Gerrard is timely as Rodgers' statements come three days prior to a friendly kickabout with Greek club Olympiacos. A match that marks the 15 years Gerrard has remained loyal to Liverpool.'It’s vital to have a good lieutenant and him and Carra were certainly that for me last year.'

Rodgers believes that, despite his enhancing years, Gerrard remains a player without rival: 'I don’t see anyone like him, he’s absolutely phenomenal and still someone who is very, very important. I just see the quality in his game.

'He is still, for me, the best passer of a ball in the Premier League. You see some of them he hits from all over the field and it’s incredible, how he strikes it. Nobody can do it like him.

'He’s 33 now, but I feel he could go on for a few years, he could adapt his role where he can become the playmaker. His role will be to make the team tick, get them playing. And for me there is no better player in the Premier League to do that.

'To have him on board, certainly for the duration of my contract here and hopefully beyond, that will be brilliant.'