Brendan Rodgers has insisted that "brilliant" Steven Gerrard is still an integral part of his plans at Liverpool, despite the midfielder's diminished game time this season.

The 34-year-old has been used sparingly during the first half of the Premier League campaign, which has led to much speculation linking him with a move away from the club at the end of the season.

However, Rodgers has once more reiterated the Englishman's importance to the club, with talks over a new contract said to be still ongoing.

"He's a wonderful player and wonderful servant to this football club and in particular in my time here he's been brilliant for me," he is quoted as saying by Goal.com.

"I've just got to manage his game. When I came in here two-and-a-half years ago, everyone was talking about whether he can play in my type of football and were his legs gone?

"You've seen him over the last couple of years, arguably he could be the player of the year for last year. So he's a player that I'm just managing his game time."

Gerrard, who has spent his entire senior career at Liverpool, was an unused substitute against Swansea City last time out, although Rodgers confirmed that he will play a part against Leicester City this afternoon.