Football
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Emre Can says he's not Liverpool's new Steven Gerrard, wants midfield role

Emre Can says he sees his future as a Liverpool midfielder, but insists he will never be the new Steven Gerrard.

Can, 21, made the switch from the Bundesliga to the Premier League last summer when he joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen in a 12 million-euro transfer.

Following a period of settling in at his new club, the Germany under-21 international has become a permanent starter for Liverpool ever since coming off the bench in the 1-0 win at Burnley on Dec. 26.

Can has been played on the right side of Brendan Rodgers's back three, having played last season for Leverkusen at left-back as well as in holding midfield.

"I wouldn't really call myself a right-back. It is demanded that I have an attacking approach, and also get involved in the build-up play," Can told Sport Bild.

"Indeed, the position was a surprise to me at first. I had never played it before, and feel more at home in midfield. But during my youth I also played at centre-back. Maybe that's why adjusting wasn't that difficult."

However, Can, who hopes to become a full Germany international ahead of Euro 2016, wants to return to playing in midfield in the near future.

Rodgers has already played him there on a few occasions, and the Daily Telegraph recently touted him as the man to follow in Gerrard's footsteps when he leaves for Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer.

"The coach knows that I prefer the role in midfield and that I see myself there in the future. But as great as the comparisons to Steven Gerrard sound, I can never be like him," Can said.

"He has been playing for Liverpool since his childhood and already is a living legend. I am Emre Can and will go my own way. To achieve a career like Gerrard has done would be a dream, but it's far from easy."

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