Steven Gerrard to leave Liverpool in summer

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard has decided not to sign a contract extension with the Merseyside club and is set to announce he will be leaving his boyhood team at the end of this season.

Liverpool’s captain of the past 11 years is expected to confirm on Friday that his glittering 17-year career at Anfield will finish when his current contract expires this summer.

Despite being offered a new deal by the club in November, Gerrard has opted for a fresh experience in the twilight of his career.

Gerrard has not agreed a pre-contract deal with another club and remains open-minded about his next destination but is believed to be considering several offers from MLS. LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls are understood to be keen on the 34-year-old, as are several clubs in the Middle East, and the former England captain is leaning towards taking his young family to the United States.

He is set to release a statement confirming his intentions to avoid becoming a distraction for Rodgers and Liverpool for the remainder of the season.

Gerrard, born in the Merseyside village of Whiston, joined Liverpool's academy when he was nine years old, making his first-team debut as a substitute against Blackburn Rovers in November 1998.

He replaced Sami Hyypia as club captain in October 2003 and led the club to the Champions League title in 2005, scoring his side's first goal as they came from three down to draw 3-3 against AC Milan and then win on penalties.

Gerrard also won the Uefa Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups, one Community Shield and two Uefa Super Cups.

He won 114 England caps, having made his international debut in 2000, captaining his country for the first time in 2008 and leading them at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, as well as at Euro 2012.

The midfielder retired from international football after England exited the 2014 World Cup in Brazil at the group stage.

Speculation about Gerrard's long-term Liverpool future intensified following a newspaper interview in October in which he said he would join another club if he was not offered a new contract at Anfield.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers said on 1 December that the midfielder had been offered a new deal, at the same time dismissing reports that the pair had fallen out.

Rodgers has said in recent weeks he wants to ration Gerrard's appearances in order to keep him fresh, leaving him on the bench for Monday's 4-1 Premier League win over Swansea.

Gerrard was restored to the starting line-up for Thursday's match against Leicester and played the full 90 minutes.