Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers believes that Steven Gerrard's performance for England during Euro 2012 can be carried into the new domestic season.

The Reds skipper had an inconsistent season at Anfield last year due to a host of injuries but Rodgers is confident that the 32-year-old will be firing for the Merseyside club for the new campaign.

"He's a great role model for this club, a wonderful inspiration on and off the field," The Mirror quotes Rodgers as saying. "You can see Liverpool is very much in his heart. He really is the soul of this football club.

"He's a wonderful player. He's maybe not the loudest on the field, but captains are different. Some are more vocal and some are pure inspiration in terms of their actions and he's very much that.

"He obviously missed a lot of last season, which I know was frustrating for him," he said. But it meant he was getting back to his best at the end of last season, and he had a wonderful championships, which bodes well."

Liverpool will kick off their 2012-13 season with an away trip to West Bromwich Albion.