Steven Gerrard is happier now than at any other stage of his career and is ready to sign a contract extension with Liverpool. The Reds skipper is looking to cap an amazing fortnight by helping England overcome Slovakia in a friendly at Wembley on Saturday before the crucial World Cup qualifier against the Ukraine on April 1 as Fabio Capello's team look to maintain their 100 per cent start to Group Six.

He could hardly be in a more confident mood. Having helped dump Real Madrid out of the Champions League, beaten Manchester United at Old Trafford and score a hat-trick in the five-goal hammering of Aston Villa on Sunday, Gerrard suddenly finds himself leading a team with realistic ambitions of winning the Barclays Premier League.

It is a far cry from the dark days when it seemed Liverpool would never threaten at the top end of the table and joining Chelsea looked like a far more attractive option.

"I have never been happier throughout my whole career than I am at the moment," Gerrard said. "I have two years left on my contract and if there was a chance to extend it, I am sure I would.

"I am playing in a top team, with world-class players and I believe in the manager. Going forward, I am sure we can be successful."

The relationship with Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez is the pivotal factor. There was a time when Gerrard just did not understand the Spaniard. Played out of position on the right side of midfield in a team that lacked direction and drive, it was not so much a meeting of minds but a pair of heads hammering against different sides of the same brick wall.

Gerrard accepts there was an element of immaturity on his part.

"Maybe when I was a bit selfish when I was younger," he reflected. "I used to think of myself a bit too much when he was playing me out of position.

"I should have taken a deep breath and realised it was for the team.

"But, at the moment, he is playing me in my favourite position, I am captain and we are winning. Our relationship has got stronger as time has gone by.

"For years and years I have moaned about not being involved in a title race and being far away from the others.

"At the moment, I am playing in a team that's capable of beating anyone in the league."

Liverpool co-owner George Gillett has played down talk he is preparing to sell his 50 per cent stake.

Speculation he was prepared to sell his interest in the club intensified after appointing top financial advisers BMO Capital Markets to assess all his global investments.

However, Gillett insists he is assessing all his options with the American also having a majority shareholding in Montreal Canadiens, along with a number of other businesses.

Gillett is adamant no decision has been made on whether he will sell his stake in Liverpool with Gillett and fellow co-owner Tom Hicks having to refinance the £350million loan they took out to buy Liverpool in July.

"We have appointed advisers in different countries to assess our assets," Gillett told the Liverpool Echo.

"We have engaged professionals who are doing some estate planning, it has nothing to do with any decisions to sell any assets.

"We may do some recapitalization, but any links between what we are doing and the situation at Liverpool is incorrect. We have made no decision to sell."