Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed his plans in order to keep veteran midfielder Steven Gerrard match fit for the campaign.
The England midfielder has played his entire career with Liverpool and this weekend’s game will mark his 445th appearance for the club and his 400th game as captain.
The 33-year-old has become an integral figure in Rodgers’ team selection, playing the full 90 minutes for the first three matches of the season as well as playing the full 90 minutes in both of England’s World Cup qualifiers.
And Rodgers understands the implications too much football can have on the aging midfielders body and has careful plans in place.
“You need to analyze the people and what age he is at and the body type he is.” He told Sky Sports.
"One of the biggest things in our method of work is the recovery method. Stevie for example plays on the Saturday, recovers on the Sunday doing pulls, stretch and massage, on the Tuesday recovers further with maybe a light jog.
“It's a long load of low intensity recovery.
“Stevie was fit enough to play Saturday, Tuesday and Sunday at the start of this season.”
Rodgers believes the man-management of his players is imperative in achieving success and declares he is happy to allow Gerrard extra time off from training when he wants it.
"It depends if you are a dogmatic coach and you think you always have to have the player out there," added Rodgers.
"Given the culture we have created here, the players want to be out training every day.”
Rodgers faces a return to his former club Swansea on Monday night in the hope of keeping his 100% league record and remaining top of the Premier League.
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