Gerrard sets targets which he wants to achieve

Steven Gerrard has set his sights on claiming Premier League title glory and lifting the World Cup before he hangs up his boots.

The Liverpool and England midfielder can only achieve one of those aims this year with the Reds well off the pace and battling to even finish fourth to secure another season of UEFA Champions League football.

Global glory with the Three Lions is a more realistic possibility as Fabio Capello's men head to South Africa this summer among the tournament favourites.

Gerrard will celebrate his 30th birthday at the end of May and believes that he has another five years playing at the very highest level before he calls time on his career.

"It's a big time for me - I am aware of my age and what I want out of the remainder of my career," the all-action midfielder admitted.

"I look after myself, and I'm in good shape physically so I believe I've still got five years to fight for all the big prizes in football. I'll do everything I can to keep going."

Gerrard has admitted that his own personal form and that of Liverpool has been below-par this season, but he is hoping for an upturn in fortunes over the closing weeks of the campaign.

Rafa Benitez's men continue their quest for fourth place with Sunday's home meeting against Sunderland, with a Europa League quarter-final against Benfica to follow on Thursday.

Gerrard said: "You have to accept that as a team we have underachieved and I have to accept that there have been times when my form hasn't been good. We deal with that and move forward.

"There's a chance to finish the season on a high with Liverpool now, by finishing fourth and going to a cup final. It would be fantastic if we could achieve both of those things. Then you focus on the World Cup.
"Things change quickly in football," he added. "That's why my main priority is to try and finish the season strongly with Liverpool.

"That will give me a big lift going to the World Cup, and then I'll be going feeling positive that I can achieve something really important with England."