Gerrard headed for MLS after English season ends

LONDON (AP) - Steven Gerrard wants to win a trophy and lead Liverpool to a top-four finish in the English Premier League before he leaves his childhood club for Major League Soccer at the end of the season.

A day after Gerrard announced he will leave the club and play abroad, the long-time captain confirmed on Saturday he will go to Major League Soccer, though he has yet to sign a deal with an MLS side.

"I'll be going to play in America," Gerrard said on Liverpool's in-house TV channel. "I'm not over the line with any team just yet. I'm close and as soon as I know, I'll make the announcement. I'd love nothing better than to try to win a trophy and leave the team in the top four."

Gerrard's move to the United States will bring the curtain down on a 17-year career at Anfield, where he has won 10 trophies, including the Champions League in 2005.

But recently, his performances have struggled to reach the formidable levels of his peak years, and manager Brendan Rodgers decided to manage his match-time to protect him from fatigue.

While the 34-year-old Gerrard understood Rodgers' decision, it was a moment that told him the time was right to continue his career elsewhere.

"I'm bright enough to realize it is the right thing for everyone, but when you've been a starter and a mainstay in the team for such a long time, it was a very difficult conversation to have with the manager," Gerrard admitted. "I had an idea it was going to come at some time - I'm a human, not a robot."