Steven Gerrard lands permanent job days before Premier League season

Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard has been out of the dugout since leaving Al-Ettifaq but he will embark on a new role this season

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard will lead TNT Sports' coverage of the Premier League and Champions League this season in an increased role with the broadcaster. The Champions League-winning captain played a bit-part role last season where he featured regularly on coverage for the top-flight, FA Cup and elite European competition.

However, with Sunday's Community Shield acting as the curtain-raiser for the new season, it marks the beginning of a prominent role for Gerrard. The 46-year-old returned to punditry after his spell in management with Rangers, Aston Villa and Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

Gerrard will feature prominently as part of TNT Sport's coverage of the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup as a pundit and co-commentator. The broadcaster will be showing over 700 matches, including Women's FA Cup, Serie A and the Europa League.

Since leaving the Middle East, the England great has been repeatedly linked with job vacancies, including tentative links to take over Liverpool on a short-term basis during their struggles under Arne Slot last season. This summer, he was heavily mooted with the Burnley job while he entered talks to rejoin Rangers after Russell Martin was sacked.

Gerrard expressed an openness to support Liverpool during their difficult period last season. He said: "I’ve got a brilliant connection with the club, I always have, and probably a stronger connection since I left. They’ve always been unbelievable.

"Any area I could help the club in, I’d always try to do it if I could. But I suppose what you want to know is do I want to manage Liverpool at some point in my life? Of course, that’d be a dream.

"Would I be ready for it right now, to take it over a period of time? Probably not. But is there a possibility in the future to be beside someone, those elite managers you’re talking about?

"It depends who it is and how the conversation goes. Does he need me? What does he think I can offer? As long as I’m not sub I’ll be fine!

"You have to understand it before you sign up to it, what the role is. It’s to support the manager, to be that assistant. I would do it for Liverpool Football Club, if I was asked and if they felt I was the right man to do it, I’d be open to it yeah."

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The move to a more prominent punditry role may raise question marks over whether the iconic Liverpool man will return to the dugout.

His return to Rangers fell through due to the opportunity back at Ibrox not feeling right, speaking to TNT Sports before the Champions League final last season, Gerrard admitted he was enjoying his time away from the trials and tribulations of football management.

"Who knows? You never shut the door, I'm enjoying the work-life balance, coaching is tough, it's challenging," he said.

"I've had some real big opportunities and enjoyed a lot of it. At the moment, family time, TNT, doing bits what I do, travelling, I'm enjoying it.

"I'm really happy at the moment, getting a lot of time with my kids which I've missed whilst I have been coaching so at the moment, I would say maybe (return to management)."

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