England hero Gerrard celebrated signing a new contract at Anfield with three stunning goals for the European champions in a 3-0 victory over Welsh side TNS.

After all the negotations to ensure Liverpool were allowed to defend their European title, won so dramatically against AC Milan in May, it was back down to earth with a bump as they were asked to enter the competition at the first qualifying round stage.

But although they never hit top gear, Gerrard’s three finishes were outstanding and proved once again what a superb attacking midfielder he is.

The Three Lions star pounced on a Fernando Morientes lay-off to sweep Liverpool ahead in the first half, then cleverly lobbed a second soon after.

He completed a fairytale hat-trick with a 25-yard left-foot shot in the last minute of the game and immediately set his sights on the new Premiership season.

He said: "I’m pleased with the win and we have to take it on from here.

"I think we have a stronger squad this season than last year. The manager was very disappointed in our league position last year and so were the players and so were the fans. So the idea this year is to improve on that and hopefully get involved in the title race.

"We’re improving the squad and we have players who are only going to get better. We’re learning things from the manager and he’s got great ideas.

"The aim here, as it has always been, is to win trophies. A lot of the players here crave that Premier League and hopefully this year we will give it a go."

Gerrard was given a hero’s reception by a sell-out Anfield crowd yesterday and he was relieved to put the last few difficult weeks behind him.

At one stage it looked likely that the England midfielder would be leaving the club he has played for all his life. But in the end he signed a new contract and has thanked fans for sticking by him.

He said: "The fans were great. They know what I can do and what I want to do. I don’t have to prove anything to them. But I have to keep proving things to myself, I want to keep learning and I want to keep being successful.

"The truth is I always wanted to stay here. I didn’t want to get into the situation that happened. Ideally I would have liked to have signed a contract straight after the Champions League Final. But it’s signed now, eventually, and all that trouble is behind me.

"The fans reacted very well and I’m pleased with that. And I’m just happy to carry on being captain of Liverpool Football Club."