Steven Gerrard: I wanted Thierry Henry at Anfield

Dec 24 2007 by Our Correspondent, Liverpool Daily Post

STEVEN Gerrard has spoken about his special bond with Thierry Henry and how he tried to persuade the France forward to join him at Liverpool.

Instead Henry opted to move to Barcelona in the summer after deciding to curtail a glittering career with Arsenal.

Liverpool, however, still managed to secure the signature of a top striker in Fernando Torres.

He took his tally for the season to 14 following his £20million move from Atletico Madrid with a brace in the 4-1 win over Portsmouth. But England midfielder Gerrard was keen to get Henry on board after building a relationship with him when they faced each other for club and country.

“I sent him a few text messages seeing if he fancied it,” he said.

“I would have loved to have seen him in a Liverpool shirt, just like the supporters would have.

“But he wanted to wanted to play in Spain and for Barcelona, so you had to respect that decision. However he’s got a lot of respect for Liverpool. He speaks really well about us.”

On how they got to know each other well, Gerrard revealed: “Just through the respect from playing against each other.

“One day we swapped numbers and ever since we’ve been sending each other text messages, had phone calls, we support each other and stuff.

“It is really flattering when a player at that level comes out and gives you a bit of praise. He is just settling in at Barcelona now and I’m sure he’ll prove again he’s one of the best players in the world.”

Gerrard’s heart clearly belongs to Liverpool and he hinted should he ever be offered the manager’s job he would be reluctant to refuse.

“If I was qualified to do it, there’s no way I could turn it down because of my bond with the club and the supporters, ” said the Anfield skipper.

“But I think Jamie Carragher’s got more chance than me, he maybe loves the game more than me, he studies the game more than me. So maybe he might be a bit more prepared than me.”