KOP legend Phil Thompson has belted out a heartfelt message to Steven Gerrard: Winning a title away from Liverpool means nothing.

Gerrard has gone on holiday without officially committing his future to his one and only club with new boss Roy Hodgson hopeful he will stay.

But the test of that optimism will come when either Real Madrid or Chelsea slam hard cash down on the Anfield boardroom table.

Thompson is still fearful that Gerrard will do a runner as time runs out on his quest to win a title before hanging up his boots.

Gerrard, 30, is obviously deeply concerned that he won’t be able to fulfil that ambition at Liverpool.
That’s following a disastrous last season for the club and with major doubts now also hanging over the futures of his team-mates Fernando Torres and Javier Mascherano.

Thompson, though, is adamant that picking up a champions’ trophy at another club will be tarnished.

Only winning one in the red shirt of Liverpool will mean anything, he insists.

That’s why Thompson would love Gerrard to give it at least one more year at Anfield where the prize he treasures can still be won.

The same goes for Torres and Mascherano to show loyalty and give something back to the club which has made them the players they are today.

Thompson, 56, said: “Stevie has held this team together with Jamie Carragher for the last six years.

“People say he deserves the chance to go elsewhere for what he’s done for Liverpool.
“But I hope he now says, ‘Do I need to move on?’ He will be thinking long and hard while he’s on holiday and wonder if he needs what’s happening to him at the moment.

“There have been smear campaigns about his private life on internet sites. I think that’s an absolute disgrace. That alone could have driven him away.