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Liverpool legend Mark Lawrenson has urged Steven Gerrard to end England career in order to have a better club career.
The Three Lions under the guidance of Roy Hodgson were knocked out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup after losing their opening two matches against Italy and Uruguay respectively.
Gerrard, who turned 34 last month is unlikely to take part in the next World Cup as he will be 38 by then. The former Reds defender Lawrenson wants the Anfield favourite to end his international career to prolong playing professional football for the Merseyside club.
"The time is right for Steven Gerrard to retire from international football. I never like suggesting retirement, especially regarding someone of Steven’s stature and a player who has been such a fantastic servant to the game, but it’s time," Lawrenson wrote in his column in the Liverpool ECHO.
"Roy Hodgson indicated he’d like his skipper and biggest ally to stay on until the Euros. But retire now and he preserves his Liverpool career even further."
"Those knocks he will accumulate throughout the season will be given a chance to recover during the international break. He won’t have to travel and won’t have the extra games. It can only mean one thing – more years in his legs."
"I would say to him as far as England is concerned, you’ve collected over 100 caps and captained your country, thank you but no thank you," he added.
Liverpool midfielder was leading the side and received a lot of criticism for his performance in the summer tournament. Lawrenson believes Gerrard did not deserve the slack he got for his display against Uruguay.
"I believe he was criticised unfairly in the loss to Uruguay. The problem with England is that the game management has been woeful. When teams like Italy were under a little bit of pressure, Andrea Pirlo would slow the game down," Anfield legend said.
"Experienced sides foul you in a blatant way that isn’t enough to get booked but just forces the tempo right down. As much as anything that’s been England’s problem," Lawrenson concluded.
