Benitez insists Gerrard will stay

Rafael Benitez insists he has no intention of ever selling captain Steven Gerrard.

After a week of Anfield soul-searching about the club and Gerrard's future - which ended with a confidence boosting 3-1 win over Aston Villa on Saturday - it was maybe not unexpected to see his name once again linked with Real Madrid.

But manager Benitez was on Sunday quick to make his position clear, saying: "It is clear that I will not be selling my captain."

Benitez was also responding to more speculation that he does not have the best relationship with 26-year-old Gerrard, who produced his best display of the season against Villa.

Benitez said: "It is always a surprise to see such things that are not true. Especially for Steven because he had played such a good game.

"Against Villa he worked really hard, so to see this the following day is a surprise, disappointing that this is all that people can think of.

"This week we have been talking with Steven, and last week. He was okay, we were talking about his daughter and how she is, as well as team issues and how we can give the team more confidence.

"I feel he is really focused on the club, and our idea for sure is to keep him and to see him scoring goals this season and for many years for Liverpool."

Gerrard, 26, has spent the last week worried about his six-month-old daughter Lexi, who has been in hospital recovering from symptoms similar to meningitis.

He was at her bedside last Saturday night, just hours ahead of the defeat at Manchester United, where his performance was roundly criticised. But Gerrard's display against Villa, and the warm hand-shake he exchanged with his manager at the end, suggested he was much happier than a week ago.