Gerrard: I won't stop scoring yet
Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard accepts that his all-action style may have to change in the years to come but the midfielder also insists that his thirst for goals has not decreased in the slightest.
The 33-year-old fired his 100th strike in the Barclays Premier League from the penalty spot against Newcastle on Saturday as the Reds secured a 2-2 draw at St James' Park.
That effort followed another conversion from 12 yards past Crystal Palace and an individual dribble and finish for England which Brendan Rodgers described as a 'typical Gerrard goal'.
The No.8 has operated in a deeper starting role on occasions for his club so far this season, but argued that the recent switch to 3-5-2 has provided a platform for forward bursts.
"I can get forward slightly more in this formation knowing that I have got three defenders behind me," said the captain.
"In general, whether the system changed or not, I have spoken to Brendan and he wants me to pick and choose my runs.
"Everybody understands that I'm not 21 anymore, where I can burst into the box at every opportunity. With experience, I hope I can pick the right times for those bursts.
"I'm not going to become an out-and-out holding midfielder just yet.
"With the goal against Poland, I saw the opportunity late on and still had the energy to burst into the box and managed to get a toe onto it and settle everybody's nerves.
"Hopefully I have a few more of those in the locker before I become an out-and-out holding midfielder.
"As soon as you hit 30, everybody starts calling you a veteran. The media started about three years ago! But, to be honest, I don't think about it.
"I just always go out there and try my best and see where that takes me. Slowly with time I will adapt my game and maybe become a controlling midfielder.
"Certainly, for the remainder of this season I am still going to try and pick my runs to get forward into the box."
The draw with the Magpies last week extended the Reds' opening to 2013-14 to just one defeat in eight Premier League fixtures, enough for third place in the standings.
Both Aly Cissokho and Glen Johnson returned to the starting XI for the trip to Newcastle and with Philippe Coutinho nearing a comeback too, Gerrard is excited about what lies ahead.
He added: "It's great to have Glen back. He gave us 80 brilliant minutes at Newcastle after being out for so long. I think he only had two or three training sessions.
"For me, the exciting thing at the moment is we are in a great position in the league and we are a couple of weeks away from having everybody fully fit.
"Philippe is not too far away and everybody knows how good he is. When he gets back up to speed we are going to have some squad, with everybody fighting for places - which is really positive."