Napoli coach Rafa Benitez has revealed the first word Steven Gerrard uttered to him during a tactical meeting.

Benitez recalled in the Mail on Sunday: "When I became Liverpool manager my first job was to travel to Portugal where England were competing in Euro 2004 and speak with Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher, who were all in the squad.

"I was telling them about my ideas and my tactics and they were incredibly attentive, analysing everything I said. And then I remember asking them what they could bring to the team. And Steven's first word was: 'Passion.' That was his first thought always. And for years he has provided that for Liverpool, almost a representative of the Kop on the pitch.

"And, of course, it is the first word most people will come up with to describe him now that he has announced that he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. But important as that was to his game, it shouldn't be allowed to overshadow the superb technical qualities, passing abilities and the physicality that he had."