Steven Gerrard wants reasons behind Liverpool losing Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh in close season reshuffle

Liverpool have seen Colin Pascoe and Mike Marsh leave the club
Brendan Rodgers kept his job after summit talks with Tom Werner
Steven Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling to remain at Liverpool
READ: Luis Suarez has shown Sterling what happens when you leave
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Published:
14:48 GMT, 9 June 2015

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Updated:
15:55 GMT, 9 June 2015

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Steven Gerrard wants Brendan Rodgers to come clean about what is going on at Liverpool after two of his backroom staff were sacked last week.

The Liverpool manager’s job was severely under threat after a lacklustre season, but, after crunch talks with chairman Tom Werner and Fenway Sports Group president Michael Gordon, Rodgers remained in charge while his long-serving assistant Colin Pascoe and coach Mike Marsh were let go.

Gerrard is now expecting a public explanation from his former boss on why the changes have been made.

Steven Gerrard has admitted he is ‘surprised’ at the backroom reshuffle going on at Liverpool

Mike Marsh (left) and Colin Pascoe (centre) were both allowed to leave the club at the back end of last week

Brendan Rodgers kept his job as manager after summit talks with Tom Werner and FSG’s Mike Gordon

‘I am very interested to see who he puts in alongside him and also to hear Brendan speak in a press conference to see why he has decided to make those decisions,’ Gerrard said at the launch of BT Sport Europe, the new home of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

‘I was very surprised. I didn’t expect there to be any changes in the staff positions. I think Brendan and the bosses have made those decisions and I’m looking with a keen interest to see who he puts alongside him and how he tries to improve or strengthen his staff moving forward.

‘I don’t have that relationship with Brendan anymore where I might have got a bit of a nudge on it.’

Rene Meulensteen, Sami Hyypia and Pako Ayestaran, who worked with Rafael Benitez at Anfield, are all under consideration for the No 2 role alongside Rodgers.

The 42-year-old will have to choose wisely given his performances throughout next season will be under scrutiny after failing to win a trophy in three years at the club and struggling to seventh in the table last campaign.

But Gerrard believes that the players he signs — after already securing the services of Danny Ings from Burnley and James Milner from Manchester City — will play a more important role.

‘Liverpool are frustrated at the moment with how last season went,’ he said. ‘Now I’m on the outside looking in I hope they strengthen in a few areas and make the team competitive in the league and we can break back into the top four positions. Everyone is hurting and are frustrated at how last season went.’

Liverpool have been busy in the transfer market, already capturing Burnley striker Danny Ings

Rodgers also managed to convince Manchester City midfielder James Milner to join the club this summer

Gerrard has urged Raheem Sterling to remain at Liverpool – despite interest from elsewhere

Gerrard could not rule out the unity of the squad being affected with the staff changes, adding: ‘We will have to wait and see. I think Brendan will obviously feel he needed to make some changes and freshen certain things up in his staff. But for me the key is always how you strengthen your team and squad on the pitch. For me the most important thing is who Liverpool sign to strengthen the team and squad.’

One player who looks certain to leave the club is Raheem Sterling after angering the owners with his wage demands and then his agent Aidy Ward saying his client would not sign any deal Liverpool offered. Sterling is becoming hugely unpopular, not just in Merseyside, and was heavily booed every time he touched the ball in England’s friendly against the Republic of Ireland in Dublin.

Gerrard has warned the 20-year-old he risks becoming a bit-part player at another club if he leaves Liverpool. ‘For the player’s sake and for all of us fans out there he needs to make the decision quickly,’ Gerrrard said. ‘I hope he stays, I think for his development as a player he has a fantastic manager to look after him and a great set of team-mates. I think it’s important he plays week-in-week-out and keeps trying to learn and strive to become a world class player.

‘The frustrating thing for me would be if he went to a club and became a squad player and just another number and he didn’t have that chance to progress. That’s the risk. What will be frustrating for me is if he does that.’

BT Sport Europe is the new home of top European football, with all UEFA Champions League matches and all UEFA Europa League matches exclusively live. Visit btsport.com/europe for more information.