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Stewart Downing: "I'd love to stay at Liverpool"

By Liam Power, Reporter | 26 January 2013

Stewart Downing insists that he is determined to stay at Liverpool and prove to manager Brendan Rodgers that he deserves a regular starting spot.

Liverpool winger Stewart Downing has insisted that he wants to show Reds boss Brendan Rodgers that he deserves to be part of his long-term plans at Anfield after enjoying a recent improvement in form.

Downing endured a frustrating start to the season and was told by Rodgers that he was free to find a new club after struggling to earn a regular starting place.

The 28-year-old believes that he is good enough to prove his critics wrong on Merseyside and thinks that a run in the first team has helped him show Rodgers his best form.

He told The Sun: "My conversations with Rodgers have been very open. if I'm doing well he will say so and if not, I'll be pulled aside and told what I need to do.

"At the moment it's all going well and he's pleased with me, so I have to keep it going. I said to him I'd love to stay at Liverpool and if I keep playing well, then hopefully it can continue into the seasons after.

"A good run of games has been good for me. I think I've proven in my career that if I play regularly, I tend to give good and consistent performances. It was disappointing because I was in and out, in and out and it was becoming a bit frustrating at times, but the best thing is playing in a winning team and playing with good players helps."

Downing is in the Reds squad for tomorrow's FA Cup clash with League One side Oldham Athletic.