Gerrard terms flare-up rumours as 'fantasy'

London, Jan 20 (ANI): Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has dismissed as "fantasy" the wild rumours that he will quit the club after a flare-up with boss Rafa Benitez.

Both manager and skipper are dismayed by persistent speculation which claims the player had a furious row in the dressing room at half-time during the defeat by Reading in the FA Cup last week.

The rumours claimed Gerrard had a showdown with Benitez and coach Mauricio Pellegrino, and vowed that he would never play for Liverpool again.I've heard about a dozen versions of the same rumour and they're all as daft as each other," The Mirror quoted Gerrard, as saying.

"I'd love to know who comes up with this kind of stuff because they must have an unbelievable imagination. Nothing happened, that's an absolute fact. And if anyone thinks this nonsense unsettles either me or the club then they're mistaken. If anything it's brought everyone even closer together because we've all had a good laugh about it.

"In the time since he's been here I've never had a problem with the manager or his staff, and certainly not at half-time in the Reading game when I was actually receiving treatment for the injury I'd picked up during the first half," Gerrard added.

Benitez too, explained that he and his skipper were laughing about the 'stupid' rumours yesterday, with the manager refusing to give them credence. (ANI)