LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool have offered captain Steven Gerrard a new contract, manager Brendan Rodgers has confirmed -- but the club captain is now deciding whether he wants to sign.
Gerrard's current deal expires at the end of this season, and in mid-November the club opened talks with his representative Struan Marshall over extending it.
The 34-year-old's Anfield future has looked uncertain in recent months, with the former England captain telling the Daily Telegraph in late October that he would move elsewhere to continue his playing career if the Reds did not offer him a new contract.
However, both Gerrard and Rodgers have dismissed reports that they have fallen out, with the manager describing rumours of a rift as "150 percent" untrue.
Rodgers told a news conference: "Steven's been offered a contract here, and that's where it's at."
However, he acknowledged that it was not guaranteed at this stage that the captain would sign the deal.
He added: "After everything he's done here, Steven deserves that respect and should be given that time to consider that.
"It's a big move, not just in his life, in terms of committing to where his next contract's going to be. He needs to be given that time to look at that.
"There are probably many things Steven has to look at in a decision like that, but it certainly won't be about money.
"I've spoken to him enough times, and at length, and that certainly won't be the case, so I think that between now and the end of the season, he deserves that opportunity to have a think as to where he's at."
Rodgers dropped Gerrard to the bench for Saturday's 1-0 home win over Stoke -- the first time the captain had not started a league game for Liverpool since Jan. 1, when he missed a 2-0 victory over Hull because of injury.
Gerrard played the final 15 minutes of the game, on what was the 16th anniversary of his first-team debut for the club, and Rodgers insisted his captain still has much to offer.
He said: "I love working with Steven Gerrard. He's arguably the best player who has ever played in the Premier League. I've enjoyed every single minute of working with him here, and I hope that continues.
"But I need to give him the opportunity to think for as long as it takes in order to decide what he wants to do next.
"I've seen some unfortunate reports yesterday about a rift between him and me.
"If there are two words that describe our relationship, they would be honesty and respect. He's been an outstanding player over his time and my time here. He's been absolutely brilliant.
"He's at the stage of his career where it's not so much about the number of games that he plays now, it's about the level of the games. That's something we'll work with and look at."
Asked directly whether there had been any fall-out with Gerrard, as had been reported on Sunday newspapers and denied by Gerrard himself, Rodgers said: "No -- 150 percent no. I was very surprised to see that. I think Steven made the same point on social media.
"He and I have a fantastic relationship. I have huge respect for him, not just as a player, but as a person."