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Gerrard: 'Bust-up rumours are rubbish'
Published 23:00 19/01/10 By David Maddock
Steven Gerrard has dismissed as "fantasy" the wild rumours that he will quit Liverpool after a bust-up with boss Rafa Benitez.
And the Anfield captain instead maintains that he remains totally committed to the club.
Both manager and skipper are dismayed by the persistent speculation - that was first aired on a national radio show - which claims the player had a furious row in the dressing room at half-time during the defeat by Reading in the FA Cup last week.
The rumours claimed that Gerrard had a showdown with Benitez and coach Mauricio Pellegrino, and vowed that he would never play for Liverpool again.
But last night, the England midfielder firmly set the record straight. “I've heard about a dozen versions of the same rumour and they're all as daft as each other,"Gerrard explained.
"I'd love to know who comes up with this kind of stuff because they must have an unbelievable imagination. Nothing happened, that's an absolute fact.
"And if anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they're mistaken. If anything it's brought everyone even closer together because we've all had a good laugh about it.
"In the time since he's been here I've never had a problem with the manager or his staff, and certainly not at half-time in the Reading game when I was actually receiving treatment for the injury I'd picked up during the first half," he added.
"The important thing for me now is trying to get myself fit as soon as possible so I can get back to working with the manager and the team to try and improve our situation.
"All the stories about me leaving are unfounded. The fans can be assured that I am doing all I can to get back to top form and help Liverpool finish the season on a high."
Benitez too, explained that he and his skipper were laughing about the 'stupid' rumours yesterday, with the manager refusing to give them credence.
Instead he revealed that he is concentrating on turning Liverpool's season around, and finding a striker in the current transfer window, to cover for the injured Fernando Torres.
The Reds boss has made a concerted attempt to bring Kenwyne Jones in on loan but, with his club Sunderland ready to discuss only a permanent transfer, he has gone cold on the striker.
Benitez sees Jones as a stop-gap, and is reluctant to spend the £10million Sunderland are asking on a forward who may only be a squad player.
Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanonic is a free agent in the summer and could be bought for a nominal fee, and Benitez has made several enquiries about the Serbian.