Gerrard wanted Henry

Stevie Gerrard has admitted that he tried to persuade Thierry Henry to join Liverpool in the summer. The Frenchman left Arsenal for Barcelona, but Gerrard has joked that he sent him a text message asking him to come to Liverpool.

Gerrard told liverpoolfc.tv: "Just through the respect from playing against each other.”

He also admitted that Henry went to Spain because he wanted to play for Barcelona although he has a lot of respect for the Reds.

"I sent him a few text messages seeing if he fancied it," said Gerrard.

"I would have loved to have seen him in a Liverpool shirt, just like the supporters would have.

"But he wanted to play in Spain and for Barcelona, so you had to respect that decision.

"However he's got a lot of respect for Liverpool. He speaks really well about us."