The Anfield captain led England from the front on Wednesday, the two goals he scored to beat Hungary at Wembley enabling him to exorcise some of the ghosts of a calamitous World Cup.
He hopes his next step, when Liverpool face Arsenal at Anfield today, will be to show he is fully reconciled with the club he loves.
Rafa Benitez has been replaced as Liverpool manager by Roy Hodgson and Gerrard admitted: “Everyone is going into work with a smile on their face again.
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“It’s a new chapter at the club with a new manager.
“Roy is successful and the players are looking forward to working with him, so I’m very excited about the new season.
“At the start of every season I set myself personal targets. Because I play for such a big club like Liverpool, it has to be silverware that I am after. If I get my hands on a trophy and England are sat at the top of our qualifying group then I’ll go on holiday a lot happier next summer.
“I want a big trophy. I suppose they are all big trophies these days, because I am 30 now and I’m desperate to get my hands on as many medals as possible before I finish.”
Gerrard added: “I’m a local lad, a Liverpool fan, and I felt the disappointment of last season like the fans did.
“I have had some highs and some lows, but I am desperate to experience some more great nights as a Liverpool player because I know time is running out for me. I don’t know whether last season was the lowest point of my career, but it wasn’t good enough.
“I am captain of Liverpool and to finish seventh in the Premier League and not lift a trophy wasn’t good enough for our club. We’ll be looking to put it right this season.”
Gerrard says he will use the burning disappointment he still harbours about England’s failure in South Africa to drive him on this season.
He was below his inspirational best last season as Liverpool disappointed both at home and abroad.
But he was one of the few successes of Fabio Capello’s team at the World Cup after being handed the captaincy when Rio Ferdinand was injured on the eve of the tournament.
Gerrard said: “As a footballer, when you have a long career, you will experience highs and lows, and it’s important when you are faced with setbacks that you are able to move on as quickly as possible.
“When you win a trophy or big match, you enjoy it at the time, but there are always other important games around the corner. It’s the same when you have a disappointment. You’ve got to try to use those feelings that are still there as ammunition to drive you on.
“I spent a few weeks reflecting on the World Cup and what my future would bring. There were regrets.
“But I am someone who likes to move forward – that’s what I aim to do this year.”
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