The Anfield giants finished second in 2008/09 with a points total of 86 that would have won the league in several other seasons, but have never come as close in Gerrard's tenure as skipper.

With the Manchester clubs and Chelsea all strengthening in the off-season, the 32-year-old realises his hopes of bringing the title to Merseyside are unlikely to happen, especially with other up-and-coming rivals also hungry for success.

"It will be a miracle if I now realise my dream of winning the title with Liverpool," he wrote in his recently published autobiography My Liverpool Story.

"I say that because of my age and where we have finished in the league the past couple of years. And also the situation we're in with the rivalries.

"There's not just United and Arsenal now but City, Chelsea and Tottenham - Newcastle coming as well. The Premier League has become a lot more difficult to win for everyone."