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Gerrard set for guard of honour in final Anfield appearance

Liverpool have revealed that Gerrard will be applauded onto the pitch by player's from both sides ahead of his final home game.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is set to be given a guard of honour at the start of the game against Crystal Palace at Anfield on Saturday's evening kick-off, as the club look to mark his final ever appearance on Merseyside for the Reds.

It is thought that Gerrard has asked that the game does not become too much of a circus surrounding him, but club officials are determined to make his final game memorable. Much like the Liverpool players did for Chelsea last week, the Palace and Liverpool players will applaud Gerrard as he enters the Anfield pitch for one last hurrah.

Gerrard is leaving for MLS side LA Galaxy in the summer, meaning he has just two games left for Liverpool. Alongside the guard of honour, there is expected to be a mural unveiled at the Kop End of the pitch, where Gerrard has scored so many wonderful goals.

It is thought that Gerrard will be given a similar send-off to his friend and former team-mate Jamie Carragher, who retired in 2013. Carragher has this week expressed his desire for the event not to be too emotional, citing that he hopes Gerrard doesn't start crying.

The skipper will be looking to continue his recent good form, which has seen him score two goals in two games. He scored the winning goal against Queen's Park Rangers ten days ago, before heading in an equaliser against Chelsea on Sunday.

Liverpool closing in on Burnley striker Danny Ings after Clarets' relegation

Burnley striker Danny Ings is believed to be close to sealing a deal to move to Liverpool FC this summer, after Sean Dyche's side were relegated from the Barclays' Premier League despite beating Hull City.

Liverpool FC's chase of Burnley striker Danny Ings has taken a step closer to completion since the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League. 

Ings scored the only goal in a 1-0 win away at Hull City last weekend, but it was not enough for them to stave the drop after results elsewhere went against them.

Reds' boss Brendan Rodgers is now set to land Burnley's 22-year-old striker, who runs out of contract in the summer.

His stay at Turf Moor is set to end consequently - though the Reds will have to pay a fee via an independent tribunal to acquire Ings' services, due to the fact he is under 24.

The money to buy Ings, who is expected to go for between £3 million and £5 million, is likely to be freed up by the sale of Iago Aspas - who is almost certain to turn his current loan spell to Sevilla into a permanent switch. 

Ings is believed to prefer a move to Merseyside, despite the fact that he is attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United, Borussia Monchengladbach and David Moyes' Real Sociedad - whom the player travelled to Spain to personally speak with.

The currently Burnley striker has netted 10 goals for the Clarets in the Premier League this season, after scoring 21 goals on the way to Burnley's automatic promotion from the Championship last season. 

He is thought to be one of a number of attacking signings on Rodgers' radar. The Northern Irishman already has Divock Origi to add to the ranks, having spent a year on loan at OSC Lille in Ligue 1.

Current strikers Fabio Borini, Rickie Lambert and Mario Balotelli areexpected to leave over the summer whilst Daniel Sturridge will sitat least the first month of the 2015-16 campaign out through injury.

Aston Villa's Christian Benteke is another striker who has been linked with a move to Anfield in their place, with reports quoting a possible £32 million fee for the Belgian. 

Gerrard determined to sign off in style as he bids farewell to Anfield on Saturday

Steven Gerrard has insisted he is determined to give the Liverpool FC supporters one last moment this Saturday, when he plays at Anfield for the last ever time.

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has insisted he is determined to sign off with one more memorable moment in a red shirt as he prepares for his final game at Anfield versus Crystal Palace this weekend.

The long-time skipper has been at the club for 17 years as a first-team player, but will finally cut his ties with the Merseyside club later this month - as he switches to Los Angeles Galaxy.

Whilst Gerrard's contributions over the years may never ever be matched, he was rewarded by the club at Monday night's Former Players Association gala dinner - as he was inducted into the 2000s Hall of Fame and presented with a special You'll Never Walk Alone award.

Standing on stage after the award, Gerrard said: "I better not say too much otherwise I’ll ruin my speech for the weekend!

"I’d like to thank John Aldridge for the invite and it’s great to be in such great company tonight.

"I’d like to thank all my team-mates, including Lucas Leiva and Simon Mignolet who are here tonight, it’s a great group I’m leaving behind.

"Hopefully the owners will dig deep so the squad can be strengthened with the quality needed to bring more good times in the future.

"It’s tough at the moment because time is running out and I’m going to miss it so much. I’ve been coming to Liverpool since I was eight years old.

"Saturday is going to be the proper goodbye but there’s another game after that so I need to stay strong."

Gerrard has scored twice in his last two matches, earning Liverpool the three points at home to Queens Park Rangers and another point in a 1-1 draw away at Chelsea recently - but Gerrard insists he wants to sign off in style at Anfield on Saturday.

"That’s what I’ve always tried to do," he said. "Football is all about highs and lows.

"Since the turn of the year I had a hamstring injury and then there was that stupid tackle against Manchester United when I got sent off.

"I didn’t want to go out like that. I wanted to go out on a high. I’ll keep giving everything until the very end."

Questioned about his decision to head for the Stats, Gerrard replied: "It’s a new adventure and a new challenge.

"I’ve been in the spotlight at Liverpool for 17 years and it’s time to give a bit back to my family.

"I’ve not been there yet but I’ve heard good things about LA. I’m going to a place the family can enjoy and I can start games.

"There were signs this season that I was going to become a squad player and come on as a sub.

"I go to work on a Monday morning to spend all week preparing to go to battle at the weekend. That’s my buzz. When the manager says that’s going to change then you make your decision.

"Things changed for me this year and there were signs that it’s the right time to go."

Asked whether there was the possibility of a return in some capacity along the line, the 34-year-old said: "People mention coaching or management but first and foremost you have to be good enough for those roles.

"If that chance came up in the future and I felt as though I could contribute then for sure I’ll be back."

Frustrated Aaron Ramsey wants to be at heart of Arsene Wenger’s plans at Arsenal

Aaron Ramsey has revealed his frustration at playing on the right wing for Arsenal and admitted he would prefer to revert to his more natural position in central midfield.

The 24-year-old has started the Gunners’ last seven matches and been predominantly used out wide in Arsene Wenger’s 4-2-3-1 system.

Ramsey has scored twice in that time to take his tally for the season to 10 goals and eight assists in all club competitions — including August’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City.

Wenger has an unusually settled side at present with Arsenal naming the same starting line-up in the last five Premier League matches for the first time since 1994 but the manager could shake things up after suffering their first defeat in 11 games against Swansea on Monday night.

Ramsey may welcome a reshuffle. “[Playing on the right] is not my preferred position,” he said. “I am a central midfielder and that’s where I like to be. I like to be involved a lot more in the game. When you are out wide you don’t touch the ball for three or four minutes and I like to be at the heart of everything, trying to drive the team forward.

“But the manager’s asked me to do a job out there, and I do have the licence to drift in and get involved. When we are defending, I have to stay in position but when we get the ball I can drift. I am not a winger, I can’t knock the ball beyond my man like Theo [Walcott] does.

“I prefer to get in the little pockets of space, get involved and play the combinations but it is important to do a job for the team.”

The Welshman remains short of last year’s campaign in which he scored 15 goals and had nine assists despite a three-month lay-off with a thigh injury.

Ramsey has suffered three separate hamstring problems this season meaning he has not played more than eight successive games this term.

“The season has been a bit stop-start for me and that’s been frustrating,” he said. “It takes you a few games to get into a routine each time you come back. But other than that I’ve been quite happy. I’ve got into double figures again for goals this season and added a few assists, too. We’ve still got some games to go so I want to score a few more yet.

“Maybe because of last season people are looking more at things like goals and assists and comparing it to last year but it is important to me as a midfielder to score and create goals. It is an important part of the way I want to play so I’m definitely happier when I’m achieving those goals. I’ve been happy with my form and I want it to continue.”

Arsenal are guaranteed a top-four finish for the 18th consecutive season but Ramsey insists they head into Sunday’s match at Manchester United targeting the runners-up spot behind Chelsea ahead of their  FA Cup Final against Aston Villa on May 30.

“We still want to finish the season strongly, get second place and go into the final in good form,” he said. “We won’t take our foot off the gas because we have reached the top four. We’ve seen what Villa have been doing lately, they are on a good run so we will have to be ready for them in the final.”