‘ He can say what he likes – I must protect the club’

that Steven Gerrard was not a “top, top player” as lacking credibility, confi dent his skipper can defend himself should he so wish, and refused to dwell on Ferguson’s suggestion he had been too young to become manager at Liverpool.

“Kenny Dalglish had won a number of titles by the time he was 39,” said Rodgers, 40. “It’s something I’ve had all my life.”

Yet it was Ferguson’s claim that he overlooked signing Jordan Henderson because he “runs from his knees with a straight back, we thought his gait might cause him problems later in his career” that saw Rodgers take the Scot to task.

“The Steven thing is incredible and Jordan is one that I was really surprised at,” he said.

“He is a young lad making his way in the game and having worked with him – and Sir Alex hasn’t worked with him, so doesn’t know what type of player is – I know that he is improving all the time.

“It is an observation. It is not something that is coming from factual credence. It is impossible. You can’t have a crystal ball to say how someone will turn out.

“But to say he will struggle? One thing I would say is that, physically, he is an absolute machine.”

Ferguson’s comments about Jonjo Shelvey in the book also annoyed Rodgers. “We had a young player [ Shelvey], 20 years of age,