Steven Gerrard believes the title race experience Liverpool gained last season will aid their quest for success in 2009-10.

The Reds were narrowly pipped to the Barclays Premier League crown by Manchester United in 08-09, despite losing fewer games and scoring more goals than Alex Ferguson's side.

However, Gerrard is confident Liverpool will be an even greater force next campaign.

"I believe the experience of defeat that we felt last season will be useful to us next term," said the Anfield skipper.

"The team has greatly improved over the last year or so. Today we are much closer to winning the title than we have been in the past."

After another sensational season, in which he was named as the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year, Gerrard agreed a two-year extension to his Anfield contract in April.

While the 29-year-old admits he does not know what the future may hold beyond the end of his deal, he states he has no intention of playing for any other club.

"I will be 33 at the end of my contract in 2013 and I don't know if I will go any further," Gerrard pondered.

"If I do retire, then I will know that from the start to the end of my career I only had one club. And I don't want to think about wearing any other shirt in the future."

Meanwhile, Gerrard has revealed his huge admiration for French legend Zinedine Zidane.

Earlier this year, the former Juventus and Real Madrid ace hailed the Liverpool midfielder as the 'best player in the world' and Gerrard admits he was honoured to receive such high acclaim from one of his heroes.

"Zidane is special to me," said the Reds' No.8. "I was very flattered to hear his compliments about me.

"He is one of my heroes. When I met him I was like a fan. I did everything I could to shake his hand."