Brendan Rodgers says Steven Gerrard is the best player he has ever worked with and says the Liverpool captain is happy to be rotated for the good of the team.
Gerrard, 34, has come in for criticism this season as Liverpool have struggled in the Premier League and Europe following last season's title challenge.
The midfielder has not been at his most effective in a deeper position but Rodgers, who stressed that he judges the player on merit, said it is unrealistic to expect him to return to an all-action role at this stage of his career.
"People expect Steven to be the type of player he was 10 or 12 years ago but sadly that's not the case," Rodgers said. "Steven has been slowly adapting to a position I felt would really benefit the team -- the playmaking role behind.
"That player who scored 15 a season and made 13 or 14 assists -- he's not that type of player anymore. It's hugely unfair he gets judged on that level."
The Reds boss said Gerrard accepted he now needed to be rested to maintain his form and fitness.
"He can play three games a week but not to the level he would like or I would like so it's up to me to manage that," he said. "It's fairly easy to manage because he's such a top-class professional player. He accepts what's best for Liverpool. He knows that every decision is in the best interests of the club."
Despite only arriving at Anfield in 2012, when Gerrard was already in his early thirties, Rodgers rates the former England international as the finest he has coached.
"He's a wonderful player," he said. "I can safely say he's the best player I've ever worked with -- his mentality, commitment and loyalty he's shown the football club has been incredible.
"I've shown in my time here as manager that I don't deal in sentiment. There is nothing sentimental about me picking Steven. I judge him on what I see on the training field. I see the influence he has with the other players.
"Of course he's coming to the latter part of his career but he still has a big contribution to make for me."