Brendan Rodgers insists sentiment has no bearing on his determination to see Steven Gerrard be given a contract extension. Liverpool’s captain, who is out of contract next June, raised the prospect that he could play somewhere else next season, after he revealed in an interview with Sportsmail last week that he had yet to be offered a new deal and has no plans to retire. That statement pricked the ears of several managers, notably Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, who admitted he would certainly consider a move for the 34-year-old, as he believes Gerrard has the quality to ‘continue at a high level for a couple more years’. Steven Gerrard's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season and he insists he will not retire . The Reds captain was in action on Saturday as Liverpool went down 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James' Park . Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers (right), standing on the touchline looking on with Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew, insists a new contract for Gerrard would have 'nothing to do with sentiment' and he would deserve it . Mario Balotelli (right) used to play for Manchester City, a side who Steven Gerrard has been linked to . Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul 7; Janmaat 7.5, Taylor 7, Coloccini 7, Dummett 7; Abeid 7.5, Colback 7; Obertan 6 (Aarons 26mins, 7), Sissoko 8, Ameobi 6 (Cabella 66, 7); Cisse 6 (Perez 46, 7). Subs not used: Elliott, Gouffran, Haidara, Taylor. Booked: Janmaat, Taylor, Colback, Sissoko. Scorer: Perez 73. Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet 5; Johnson 5, Skrtel 6, Lovren 6, Moreno 6; Gerrard 7, Allen 5 (Borini 66, 6), Henderson 6; Sterling 5, Balotelli 5.5, Coutinho 6 (Lambert 80). Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Lallana, Can, Borini. Booked: Skrtel, Lovren, Henderson. Man of the match: Moussa Sissoko. Referee: Andre Marriner 7. Crucially, though, so does Rodgers and he explained that his motives for wanting to keep Gerrard as the heart of his team have got nothing to do with the fact he has been at the club all his life or because he has a strong relationship with him. Rodgers has held initial discussions with Gerrard’s representatives and has recommended to Fenway Sports Group, the club’s American owners, that his terms be renewed. Liverpool hope to have the matter concluded swiftly once formal talks begin. ‘It is certainly not sentimental,’ said Rodgers. ‘As the manager of this club, you can’t afford to do that. I look at his contribution since I’ve been here. I came here two-and-a-half years ago when Steven was 32, had struggled with injury and hadn’t played consistently over a number of years. 'I came in, sold him the idea and the philosophy of how we wanted to work and his importance to it. In that period, he has been outstanding. Maybe the team hasn’t played so well this year - and maybe there is a focus on Steven - but he’s been brilliant for me. ‘Both on and off the field, as a leader and a captain, and I want to ensure that on this second curve we’re on, in terms of the development of this group, he is very much a part of that. So there is certainly no sentiment involved in it. Pellegrini believes that the Liverpool captain can play on at the top for at least two more years . Ayoze Perez shows a poacher's instinct to prod past Simon Mignolet to punish Alberto Moreno's (right) mistake . Mario Balotelli (xentre) was once again a peripheral figure, with £16m man flattering to deceive on Tyneside . Ayoze Perez’s strike for Newcastle United in the 1-0 win over Liverpool ensured this game’s ability to keep producing goals continues. These clubs have not shared a 0-0 draw since February 1974. ‘When you see some of his passes and his influence in the changing room, he is still an outstanding player. He is the perfect example for a lot of our players to learn from.’ Gerrard was the only Liverpool player who looked capable of making anything happen at St James’ Park on Saturday.] . Too many of his colleagues failed to impose themselves on a drab contest from which Newcastle managed to chisel a 1-0 win thanks to Ayoze Perez’s goal. Newcastle celebrate after Ayoze's goal inflicted Liverpool's fourth Premier League defeat  in ten games . Champions League holders Real Madrid eased to a 4-0 victory at Granada on Saturday, with Cristiano Ronaldo incredibly scoring his 22nd goal of the season. It was the Galacticos’ 11th straight win ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Liverpool. Liverpool’s form has been wretched and since the start of September, they have floundered in the Premier League, winning just two of their seven assignments. On Tuesday they face a huge task in Madrid against Champions League holders Real. A showdown with Chelsea at Anfield then awaits next Saturday and with no momentum behind them, few will give Liverpool a chance of taking anything from either assignment. Rodgers, though, is refusing to grumble. ‘It is why we worked so hard,’ said Rodgers. ‘We wanted to be involved in this type of game, (against Real Madrid), because it means we’ve been successful. ‘This result wasn’t what we wanted and we have to work to rectify it.’ Remy Cabella hops on Ayoze's back in front of the adoring fans as Newcastle take the lead on Saturday . VIDEO Great day for us - Pardew .
Liverpool lost 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James' Park on Saturday .
Ayoze Perez grabbed only goal as Liverpool's poor run of form continued .
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers wants to offer Steven Gerrard new deal .
Gerrard's contract expires at end of season and he says he will not retire .
Rodgers insists new contract offer will have 'nothing to do with sentiment'
Brendan Rodgers insists sentiment has no bearing on his determination to see Steven Gerrard be given a contract extension. Liverpool’s captain, who is out of contract next June, raised the prospect that he could play somewhere else next season, after he revealed in an interview with Sportsmail last week that he had yet to be offered a new deal and has no plans to retire. That statement pricked the ears of several managers, notably Manchester City’s Manuel Pellegrini, who admitted he would certainly consider a move for the 34-year-old, as he believes Gerrard has the quality to ‘continue at a high level for a couple more years’. Steven Gerrard's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season and he insists he will not retire . The Reds captain was in action on Saturday as Liverpool went down 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James' Park . Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers (right), standing on the touchline looking on with Newcastle United boss Alan Pardew, insists a new contract for Gerrard would have 'nothing to do with sentiment' and he would deserve it . Mario Balotelli (right) used to play for Manchester City, a side who Steven Gerrard has been linked to . Newcastle (4-2-3-1): Krul 7; Janmaat 7.5, Taylor 7, Coloccini 7, Dummett 7; Abeid 7.5, Colback 7; Obertan 6 (Aarons 26mins, 7), Sissoko 8, Ameobi 6 (Cabella 66, 7); Cisse 6 (Perez 46, 7). Subs not used: Elliott, Gouffran, Haidara, Taylor. Booked: Janmaat, Taylor, Colback, Sissoko. Scorer: Perez 73. Liverpool (4-3-3): Mignolet 5; Johnson 5, Skrtel 6, Lovren 6, Moreno 6; Gerrard 7, Allen 5 (Borini 66, 6), Henderson 6; Sterling 5, Balotelli 5.5, Coutinho 6 (Lambert 80). Subs not used: Jones, Toure, Lambert, Manquillo, Lallana, Can, Borini. Booked: Skrtel, Lovren, Henderson. Man of the match: Moussa Sissoko. Referee: Andre Marriner 7. Crucially, though, so does Rodgers and he explained that his motives for wanting to keep Gerrard as the heart of his team have got nothing to do with the fact he has been at the club all his life or because he has a strong relationship with him. Rodgers has held initial discussions with Gerrard’s representatives and has recommended to Fenway Sports Group, the club’s American owners, that his terms be renewed. Liverpool hope to have the matter concluded swiftly once formal talks begin. ‘It is certainly not sentimental,’ said Rodgers. ‘As the manager of this club, you can’t afford to do that. I look at his contribution since I’ve been here. I came here two-and-a-half years ago when Steven was 32, had struggled with injury and hadn’t played consistently over a number of years. 'I came in, sold him the idea and the philosophy of how we wanted to work and his importance to it. In that period, he has been outstanding. Maybe the team hasn’t played so well this year - and maybe there is a focus on Steven - but he’s been brilliant for me. ‘Both on and off the field, as a leader and a captain, and I want to ensure that on this second curve we’re on, in terms of the development of this group, he is very much a part of that. So there is certainly no sentiment involved in it. Pellegrini believes that the Liverpool captain can play on at the top for at least two more years . Ayoze Perez shows a poacher's instinct to prod past Simon Mignolet to punish Alberto Moreno's (right) mistake . Mario Balotelli (xentre) was once again a peripheral figure, with £16m man flattering to deceive on Tyneside . Ayoze Perez’s strike for Newcastle United in the 1-0 win over Liverpool ensured this game’s ability to keep producing goals continues. These clubs have not shared a 0-0 draw since February 1974. ‘When you see some of his passes and his influence in the changing room, he is still an outstanding player. He is the perfect example for a lot of our players to learn from.’ Gerrard was the only Liverpool player who looked capable of making anything happen at St James’ Park on Saturday.] . Too many of his colleagues failed to impose themselves on a drab contest from which Newcastle managed to chisel a 1-0 win thanks to Ayoze Perez’s goal. Newcastle celebrate after Ayoze's goal inflicted Liverpool's fourth Premier League defeat  in ten games . Champions League holders Real Madrid eased to a 4-0 victory at Granada on Saturday, with Cristiano Ronaldo incredibly scoring his 22nd goal of the season. It was the Galacticos’ 11th straight win ahead of Tuesday’s clash against Liverpool. Liverpool’s form has been wretched and since the start of September, they have floundered in the Premier League, winning just two of their seven assignments. On Tuesday they face a huge task in Madrid against Champions League holders Real. A showdown with Chelsea at Anfield then awaits next Saturday and with no momentum behind them, few will give Liverpool a chance of taking anything from either assignment. Rodgers, though, is refusing to grumble. ‘It is why we worked so hard,’ said Rodgers. ‘We wanted to be involved in this type of game, (against Real Madrid), because it means we’ve been successful. ‘This result wasn’t what we wanted and we have to work to rectify it.’ Remy Cabella hops on Ayoze's back in front of the adoring fans as Newcastle take the lead on Saturday . VIDEO Great day for us - Pardew .
Gerrard's Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season and he insists he will not retire . Liverpool went down 1-0 to Newcastle United at St James' Park . Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers new contract for Gerrard would have 'nothing to do with sentiment' and he would deserve it . Park on Saturday.] . Too many of his colleagues