JC 'sure' Gerrard will pen deal

But Carragher, who is retiring at the end of the season, admits striker Luis Suarez is now close to rivalling Gerrard as the best player he has played alongside for the Reds.

Gerrard, 32, deservedly won the man of the match award in Liverpool's 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday and scored the winner from the penalty spot.

The spot-kick was awarded for a challenge on Suarez who shrugged off the tiredness from his World Cup qualifier exertions and travelling with Uruguay to produce another dynamic performance.

Carragher said: "Every side has a couple of players in the side you hope can turn things for you and Luis does it on a weekly basis.

"I've played with a lot of top players here and I've always said Stevie was the best player I've played with.

"But Luis is definitely on his shoulder, he is very close.

"He put in another top performance and shows why he deserves to be PFA player of the year."

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has confirmed he will hold talks with Gerrard over a new contract and is convinced he can play into his late 30s.

Carragher said: "I'm sure Stevie will sign a contract and finish his career at Liverpool the way I've done.

"There is no doubt about that. I'm sure he'll sit down and sort it out in the next couple of months.

"Steve will be finishing his career at Liverpool. He is 'captain fantastic' every week.

"It's not just against Villa. He's been doing it for years, scoring at one end, saving at the other."

Liverpool came from behind to win a Barclays Premier League game for the first time in two years with Jordan Henderson cancelling out Villa striker Christian Benteke's opener.

It was their third victory in four games but Carragher is playing down talk of challenging for a European spot.

He said: "It is something that has been questioned about us over the last few years, going behind in games and coming back.

"Following on from the defeat at Southampton, we spoke beforehand about putting on a performance.

"Winning that game now makes Southampton look like a blip because we were on a good run.

"But I don't really look too far ahead and to be honest if you asked most of the lads, they wouldn't even know what position would get us into Europe.

"Sometimes it is fifth spot, sometimes sixth, seventh. We just will try and carry on and win games and see where it takes us."

Premier League: Aston Villa pay the penalty as Liverpool come from behind to win

Villa had threatened a third successive league victory when Christian Benteke fired them into a first half lead against the run of play.

But Liverpool hit back two minutes after half-time through Jordan Henderson's well-taken chip and Steven Gerrard then stepped up on the hour to convert a penalty after Luis Suarez had been felled inside the box.

The result keeps Villa in the bottom three on goal-difference, while seventh-placed Liverpool slashed the gap to Merseyside rivals Everton to three points.

Villa posed plenty of problems for Liverpool in the first half and Gabriel Agbonlahor should have put the hosts ahead after 17 minutes but fired his close-range shot straight at Pepe Reina.

Benteke had scored twice in the 3-1 win at Anfield earlier in the season and after 31 minutes he put Villa ahead.

Ashley Westwood's long ball was turned back by Agbonlahor to Benteke who drilled a fierce shot past Reina who got a hand on the ball but could not keep it out of the net. It was the 18th goal of the season from the Belgian international.

Liverpool failed to level before the break but did so soon after when Philippe Coutinho's defence-splitting pass was seized on by Henderson who flicked the ball over Guzan into the corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season.

With Liverpool on the front foot and pressure building it came as no surprise when the lively Suarez was needlessly brought down in the box by Nathan Baker and the resulting spot-kick was converted by Gerrard.

Andreas Weimann could have made it 2-2 but scooped his shot over the bar from 10 yards and Gerrard then reacted well at the other end to head Benteke's header off the line at full stretch from a corner.

But Liverpool had succeeded in taking much of the sting out of Villa's attacking threat and quietening the Holte End, who had their late celebrations cut short after Benteke's injury time effort was ruled out for offside.

An elated Brendan Rodgers told Sky Sports after the match: "Our character was outstanding today. I thought we played reasonably well in the first half but we made a mistake and were punished by a good finish from Benteke.

"I thought we created chances in the first half and second half we upped the tempo and going forward we were excellent. Defensively we were nice and solid so it was a terrific win for us. Paul's (Lambert) teams always go right to the end and it was tough for us.

"Our quality was there as was our drive and determination. I thought that tactically we adapted very well and overall I'm very, very pleased. After losing the previous game (against Southampton) you want to bounce back and we did that."

Lambert did not think there was much between the sides but was left to lament two "poor goals".

He said: "I thought first half we were excellent - I really did. There was Gabby's (Agbonlahor's) chance which if he mis-kicks it, it probably goes in but the keeper (Pepe Reina) did well and stood up to it.

"There wasn't much in it in the second half but we never had the fluency which we did have in the first half, but you can't give away goals like we did. It was a definite penalty, I've just seen it."

Asked how disappointed he was to concede so soon after half-time, Lambert added: "It was a poor goal two minutes in, when we were attacking, but Liverpool can do that with the players that they've got. You've always got to be switched on against them but from our point of view it's a poor goal."

Premier League: Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers delighted with fightback at Villa

The Reds were staring down the barrel of back-to-back defeats for the first time under Rodgers when Christian Benteke fired relegation-threatened Villa into a 1-0 lead at half-time.

But the response from Rodgers' men was emphatic; Jordan Henderson stylishly levelling two minutes after the break before Steven Gerrard sealed the points from the penalty spot.

An elated Rodgers told Sky Sports after the match: "Our character was outstanding today. I thought we played reasonably well in the first half but we made a mistake and were punished by a good finish from Benteke.

"I thought we created chances in the first half and second half we upped the tempo and going forward we were excellent. Defensively we were nice and solid so it was a terrific win for us. Paul's (Lambert) teams always go right to the end and it was tough for us.

"Our quality was there as was our drive and determination. I thought that tactically we adapted very well and overall I'm very, very pleased. After losing the previous game (against Southampton) you want to bounce back and we did that."

Rodgers reserved special praise for midfield duo Philippe Coutinho and Jordan Henderson after the pair linked up clinically for Liverpool's equaliser.

He added: "The pass (from Coutinho) and the actual run from Henderson, his determination and desire to go and run forward was outstanding. A wonderful pass and fantastic finish. I'm really pleased for him and young Philippe has great, great quality."

Brendan Rodgers has urged Daniel Sturridge to learn from Luis Suarez

Suarez hit the headlines for the wrong reasons once again this week after an altercation with Chile defender Gonzalo Jara while on international duty for Uruguay.

But Rodgers believes Sturridge, a January signing from Chelsea, can learn from the desire and defensive commitment Suarez shows for the Reds.

"For me the striker drives the train, and when you look at the history of this club, men like Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish and Robbie Fowler worked incredibly hard," said Rodgers.

"Luis does that too. He is a great leader, the way he presses up there. He has an absolutely amazing appetite for the game.

"Daniel's only just come to the club and it's a new way of working for him. But it's so important because when you don't have the pressure up top, the gaps open up.

"He's only 23 and knows he needs to improve, but he's a real receptive boy, and he can't have anyone better to learn from than Luis."

Rodgers: Reds will keep going

With no silverware to play for and Champions League qualification a distant nine points away with eight matches remaining, the best the Reds can realistically hope for is a Europa League spot.

The surprise defeat at Southampton before the international break brought the momentum of three successive league victories to a crashing halt.

Defender Jamie Carragher has admitted thoughts of a top-four finish "have been put to bed" by defeat at St Mary's but Rodgers insists there is no chance of the players switching off.

"The Southampton result was disappointing and unexpected because we were in great form and playing well," he said.

"It (the international break) has given us a chance to analyse and reflect on it and sometimes you have to after a performance like that when there were no positives.

"It is very important the season doesn't peter out and it can't do.

"We are at a stage of the season when we don't have a trophy to play for as such but we have to fight.

"This is a club where supporters pay good money home and away to watch the club.

"This is a club where there is institutional pride playing for Liverpool.

"Of course we always want to be challenging for trophies but if that is not the case you represent the shirt and the city and every game is vital.

"Every position we can grow in the Premier League this season is important for us.

"We are looking to finish the season with strength and continue. It is very important we finish the season well as that can provide a really good platform for us for next season."

Even though Europa League football is by no means a certainty for Liverpool, Rodgers is confident they will still be able to attract the right players in the summer without it.

"Whether we are in Europe or not we are going to be able to attract good players here," he added.

"That (Europe) is where we would like to be but if it isn't to be then I still believe we will be able to get in players who can improve us.

"That is the challenge, to bring those players in over the coming months."

Liverpool head to Aston Villa tomorrow looking to avenge what was the worst day of Rodgers' first six months in charge when they lost 3-1 at Anfield in yet another shock result.

"Up until that point it was probably the most disappointing (game) because we were in good form going into the game," he said.

"We started the game well and if we had got the early goal the story could have been different.

"But it was a turning point for the better, because the game was a real setback in terms of the result but we had success after that which showed the group was ready to respond.

"We analysed the game and we improved from that. Our goals and mentality have improved significantly.

"It was a disappointing result but it actually helped us in ways going forward which will be important for us."

Villa are just one place above the relegation zone as manager Paul Lambert has struggled to integrate many of the club's promising youngsters.

Rodgers, and by association owners Fenway Sports Group whose transfer policy is focused on younger players with better value for money, has also been criticised by fans for buying potential and not established stars but he accepts there is a fine line to be maintained.

"It is vital you have experience and everyone wants, because of rules coming into football and business-wise, young players so everyone is looking for the players for tomorrow," said the Reds boss.

"But what you have to ensure is you have players for today and with those players you need experience and guys who can help the young players.

"It is no good having players for tomorrow and players who will be good in three or four years' time if you haven't got the players who can help them grow on the field. The balance is key and that is something we are trying to get here.

"I've said over time Paul Lambert will turn the team into a real side that can be challenging and a competitive team and he is an outstanding manager that will do very well."

Liverpool and Tottenham linked with Fenerbahce's Moussa Sow

The 27-year-old Senegal international switched to the Turkish outfit last summer from French side Lille and is under contract until 2016.

While he is not looking to leave his current club, Sow admits he would love to ply his trade in the English Premier League.

He told TRT: "There is a lot of talk. I'm happy at Fenerbahce and don't think about leaving.

"However, everyone knows I want to play in the Premier League one day."

Regarding talk of Liverpool's interest, he added: "If Liverpool made a formal offer, if my club accepted I would be happy to play in England."

Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers dismisses latest reports on future of Luis Suarez

The Uruguay forward appeared to suggest he would be willing to leave Anfield to join a Champions League club in the summer during an interview in his homeland ahead of last week's World Cup qualifiers.

Liverpool managing director Ian Ayre insisted Suarez had been misquoted, and Rodgers believes the last round of rumours are of "no great relevance to Liverpool".

Ahead of Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, Rodgers said: "I haven't spoken to Luis yet. He was back late on Thursday and we just ran the medical team over him and he trained on Friday.

"All I am aware of is we have an outstanding player who has given everything for the club and he is very happy here.

"Every time he goes away, there is always something. I always say to players I have a simple rule: when you are with Liverpool just talk about Liverpool and when you are away with your international team concentrate on your international team so there is no drama.

"So what he says when he is with Uruguay is of no great relevance to Liverpool."

Rodgers has also played down claims from Ajax technical director Marc Overmars that Liverpool scouts have been making "regular" checks on midfielder Christian Eriksen.

"If you read what he says, he says we've had scouts there - but we could have been watching any of them, we could have been watching players from the other team," Rodgers added. "I won't speculate on anything."