Steven Gerrard 'to be left out of Liverpool's Real Madrid showdown'

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has suggested that captain Steven Gerrard will be rested from tonight's Champions League clash against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.

Rodgers is believed to have made the decision to remove the 34-year-old, who recently admitted that he is open to leaving Liverpool, with one eye on this Saturday's showdown against Chelsea.

According to The Express, Rodgers is also considering a number of changes to his starting lineup, which could include the removal of Raheem Sterling and Dejan Lovren.

"It is something I need to look at," Rodgers is quoted as saying. "Steven and I have spoken about that. Three big games - Newcastle, Madrid and then Chelsea. I need to look at a number of players to look at the games we want them to play in.

"That is something I will look at and we will see how that shapes up. In Steven's case, I have to look at what the priority is for him and us. If he played against Newcastle and didn't play tomorrow night you could say this Saturday was the priority.

"We brought in other players and there is responsibility to look at them. But there is no doubt that our priorities are the Premier League and then the Champions League."

Liverpool are currently third in Group B on level points with Basel and Razgrad Ludogorets, while Madrid top the group with a six-point advantage.