Steven Gerrard wants to make sure Liverpool is able to get Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson on new long-term contracts "before it is too late."

Liverpool have been in contract negotiations with representatives of Sterling and Henderson for several months, with their current deals due to expire in 2017 and 2016 respectively.

Gerrard said: “They need to sign him [Sterling] now. He knows what I want him to do. Not just him, Jordan Henderson as well. When I was coming through at Liverpool, every time you got within a couple of years left your contract would be renewed and there would no worrying or panic stage, but I see Henderson with a year left and I see Sterling – it is in the paper too much and I know there is no smoke without fire.

“So, for me, the message to the club is to get these done sharpish because these are the future of the club and I want to watch this team do well, in cup finals and challenging for the league. Those players, Sterling, Henderson – [Philippe] Coutinho and [Daniel] Sturridge who just signed up – they are the ones who are going to deliver, so it’s vital they get them done before it is too late.”