Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he is considering retiring at the end of his current contract.

The 29-year-old England midfielder has a deal until 2013 with the Reds, but admits it could be his last in football.

“I’ll be 33 at the end of my contract, and it’s doubtful whether I’ll carry on,” he said in an interview with France Football. “If I decide to stop, I’ll be proud of the fact I’ve spent my entire career with the same club.”

Gerrard also revealed he gave serious thought to leaving Anfield for Chelsea four years ago, but changed his mind late in the day.

“I’ve thought about leaving Liverpool twice during my career, especially in 2005 when Chelsea was a temptation,” he added.

“But I’m glad I never turned those thoughts into reality.”

Steven Gerrard believes Liverpool will be better placed than ever to beat Manchester United to the title next season.

The Reds skipper believes the experience of this season’s title race will mean the Anfield club will mount an even strong challenge next term.

And Gerrard, the Football Writers’ Player of the Year, reckons that Liverpool have shown title-winning form since mid-December.

But he accepts that consecutive home league draws against Fulham, West Ham and Hull in November and December have cost Liverpool the title.

Speaking to Liverpoolfc.tv, Gerrard said: “Looking back at those three draws on the spin at home, they are the key because, if we had turned them into wins, we would probably be champions or at least still in the race with one game to go.

“But that shows everyone how difficult this league is to win and that you need to perform immaculately at home and win all your games.

“So if we can beat Spurs on Sunday and finish with 86 points it would still be a fantastic achievement.”

Liverpool have pushed United all the way in the quest for the trophy, with manager Rafael Benitez’s men mounting their best Championship tilt since 1990.

Not only have they completed a league double over the eventual champions, but they also lost fewer games and scored more goals than the Old Trafford club.

Gerrard said: “I am really proud. This season is the first time I’ve ever been involved in a title race and, from a personal point of view, I’ve certainly enjoyed it. Speaking to the other boys, they’ve enjoyed it too.

“Obviously we were unfortunate not to win the league, but we can take a lot of positives from this season moving forward.

“We’ve put in some terrific performances this year and have performed well as a team. I think we can use this experience and take big confidence into next campaign.

“As far as trophies are concerned, we’ve finished empty handed, but I think we can be really proud of how we have performed. From maybe mid-December onwards we’ve shown championship-winning form.

“To win the Premier League you have to have had experience of being involved in a title race and let’s hope the experience we’ve gained this year will help us go one better next season.”

Last Sunday’s victory over West Brom took Liverpool’s points tally to 83 - a club record in the Premier League.

And Liverpool this season are undefeated in the league against the other members of the ‘big four’.

Gerrard said: “We can take belief from going to Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Emirates and remaining unbeaten.

“If we can take that confidence and belief into those games next season and perform in the same way, as well as turning the home draws into wins, I think we could be champions.”

Benitez is planning changes during the summer, despite having only around £20million from the club’s American owners to spend in the transfer market.

So to consider bringing in the likes of Glen Johnson, Carlos Tevez, Gareth Barry Valencia winger David Silva and his defensive club-mate Raul Albiol, Benitez will have to raise money from sales.

Despite club denials that Xabi Alonso is for sale or that Real Madrid have made a bid, Benitez will need to sell a big name to raise cash.

A lot will depend on whether Florentino Perez wins the Real Madrid presidential election on June 17, having made it clear he wants Alonso at the Bernabeu.

Liverpool have tied up new contracts for Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, with Fernando Torres also thought to be close.

Reds boss Rafael Benitez ensured the current feelgood atmosphere would continue at Anfield ahead of the crucial Premier League visit to Fulham by confirming the pair’s new deals.

Benitez described Gerrard’s new four-year deal - he has agreed a two-year extension to a current contract that had two years still to run - as “the easiest deal I have ever been involved in.”

Then, just hours later, Dutch forward Kuyt also committed his future to the Merseysiders by accepting a new two-year extension to his own contract, keeping him at the club until 2012.

But the next jewel to be secured in Benitez’s eyes could well be Torres.

The Spanish striker is among a clutch of players discussing new terms, with Jamie Carragher, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jose Reina also thought to be in negotiations.

Benitez refused to dismiss suggestions that Torres was considering new terms, only saying: “We are very close to sealing deals with other players, several. There will be more very soon.”

On Gerrard’s deal, one that takes him to 2013 and beyond his 32nd birthday, Benitez said: “He wanted to stay for all his life, that was the key.

“If the captain decides to stay for four more years, maybe until the end of his career, it shows great commitment to the club that everyone can see.

“It is a very good message for the rest of the players. We have been talking with a lot of them about new contracts so it is the right image to give them.

“It has followed me signing my contract, which was a good thing because it shows to players who will be in charge, who will be the manager in the future, we are going forward in the right direction.

“It has been a good time for the club, but we have to keep winning to start talking about the positives.”

He added: “We must beat Fulham or things will be again bad for us. We must wait to see how things progress because there are a lot of points still to win.

“Steven’s new contract shows his desire for the club. It is great for him, the fans, the club, everyone connected with Liverpool.

“For me he is one of the best players in the world, although it is difficult to say ‘the best’ with so much talent around.

“He has got better. He has matured, he is willing to learn in every training session. But he can still improve.

“We have been working very hard this week with a lot of players and agents, and the easiest one has been Gerrard.

“As soon as we talked to him about an extension, it happened very quickly. No problem.

“It is probably the quickest new deal I have ever been involved in, sometimes they can drag on.”

Kuyt admitted recently that he was advised to delay his own contract discussions until it was clear whether the manager was also staying.

Benitez’s own deal has been the catalyst for several others, including all of his back room staff.

On Kuyt, Benitez said: “This is another great piece of news for the club. “Dirk had one year left on his contract and we were keen for him to stay. He is a player with great quality who has a big part to play in our future and we are delighted to have reached an agreement. “To have announced new deals for Steven and Dirk on the same day shows how hard everyone is working and that we are moving forward quickly as a club. These are very positive messages and I am very happy.”

But Benitez also knows that the confidence booming from Anfield after three outstanding victories over Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa could evaporate if Liverpool do not continue that same form now the international break is over.

He said: “People will say that the break came at the wrong time for us, we were playing well and the players were very confident.

“We had such good momentum before the break. But I believe the players understand how important the situation is now, I have talked to them since they returned from playing for their countries and they know how vital it is to keep putting pressure on Manchester United.

“But they are still favourites. They are a good team with a good manager who has plenty of experience, and they are in a better position than we are.

“We will see maybe on Sunday (after United play Aston Villa) whether they have been affected by us and how we have played recently.

“But before we start thinking like that, we have to do our own job and win at Fulham tomorrow to go top ourselves.”

Captain Steven Gerrard is in the Liverpool squad to face Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 tie.

Gerrard has been out for three weeks with a hamstring injury but was able to take part in training at Melwood this morning and is poised to travel to the Spanish capital.

The England star was thought to have been close to featuring in yesterday’s 1-1 Barclays Premier League draw with Manchester City but was ruled out by manager Rafael Benitez late last week.

Benitez told www.liverpoolfc.tv: “Steven will be in the squad. He was okay in training this morning.

“It was a special training session so we were not testing him 100%, but he trained okay so we will see.”

Gerrard has not played for the Reds since limping out of the FA Cup fourth round replay defeat at Everton on February 4.

His return would be a huge boost for Benitez after yesterday’s disappointment, which saw Liverpool end the weekend seven points behind leaders Manchester United.

Xabi Alonso also missed the match against City through suspension but can return at the Bernabeu, raising the prospect of Benitez being able to select his first choice midfield against the club whose youth teams he used to coach.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have both pulled out of England’s friendly with Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard have both pulled out of England’s friendly with Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

Gerrard reported for duty last night despite the Liverpool website stating he would be unavailable after picking up a rib injury at Bolton on Saturday.

But a check by the FA’s medical staff has proved that diagnosis to be correct and Gerrard has returned to the north-west.

Gerrard’s midfield partner Lampard also misses out after scans on a rib injury he picked up at West Brom on Saturday revealed he would not be fit enough to be involved at the Olympic Stadium.