Gerrard confirms he's leaving Liverpool

The midfielder, who has been playing with Liverpool since he was nine years old and served as captain of the Reds for the past 12 years, confirmed on Friday that he would leave the club at the end of this football season.

"I'm going to carry on playing and although I can't confirm at this stage where that will be, I can say it will be somewhere that means I won't be playing for a competing club and will not therefore be lining up against Liverpool - that is something I could never contemplate," Gerard, also a former England captain, told the club's official website.

Gerard, who has made 695 appearances and scored 180 goals for Liverpool, comes to the end of his current contract at the close of this football season and there has been speculation in the British media that he may move to America to play in the Major League Soccer competition.

Gerard said his decision to depart his boyhood club had been the toughest of his life and he would be dedicated to his team until the season's end in May.

"I am making the announcement now so that the manager and the team are not distracted by stories or speculation about my future," he said.

se/ksb (AFP, AP, Reuters, dpa)