Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed that he has spoken to Steven Gerrard about the number of bookings his captain picked up this season.

The Reds skipper is one yellow away from a two-game suspension, and Rodgers, who has converted Gerrard to a holding midfielder this campaign, has said that he has warned his player about the dangers of an impending ban after watching him pick up seven in his last 10 appearances.

Rodgers told reporters: "We just have to cope with the situation. I have spoken to him about it and we just have to be that extra bit careful. I think he has been very unlucky. His last two bookings have been unlucky. The one against Manchester United should never have been a booking.

"He won a header that was very difficult to win and he was unfortunate against Cardiff at the weekend because he committed a foul which also should not have been a booking.

"We didn't help him because we gave away the ball so cheaply. He has been unfortunate picking up some unnecessary bookings that were not through him. It's a role he can play and he will find a way, I'm sure. He just has to be a bit more cautious but he is clever enough to get through that."

The Reds host Sunderland on Wednesday.