Steven Gerrard has not ruled out a return to Liverpool on loan next season after agreeing an 18-month deal with Los Angeles Galaxy.
The Reds captain will move to Major League Soccer at the end of the current Premier League campaign, but with the season in the United States running from March to December, Gerrard, 34, could be available to come back to Anfield on a short-term loan.
Thierry Henry rejoined Arsenal in 2012 in similar circumstances during his stay with New York Red Bulls, and Gerrard says he would "love" to use Liverpool's Melwood complex as a training base next winter.
"I've not even thought about the possibility of a loan," Gerrard is quoted as saying in the Liverpool Echo. "I've not had that conversation with anyone. I can't rule it out, but I can't confirm it would happen either.
"The way the season works in the MLS there's a break around winter time. What I can say is that I'd love to be able to come back and train with the lads to keep my fitness levels up.
"Whether that could lead to playing for the club again I don't know. That wouldn't be my decision. You'd have to ask others that question."
Gerrard has said he would have signed a new Liverpool contract if one had been put on the table last summer, but he was not offered a deal until November.
He is now set to earn a basic salary of around $6 million a year at the Galaxy -- roughly half of what he is paid at Anfield, although he will be able to increase that figure through image rights and sponsorship.
Gerrard, however, insists he is not joining the California club for a holiday.
"I think it is time for a fresh challenge in my life," Gerrard told LAgalaxy.com. "At this stage of my career I think the timing is right to move on, but I still feel like a player.
"I've watched a lot of their games and I still know I can perform well for the next couple of years, so I want to go into a setup with a winning mentality, with a team that is used to winning.
"I am not going over there for a holiday or to enjoy myself. I am going there to win; if I win and play well, then my life becomes enjoyable."
The 34-year-old, who retired from international duty with England in the summer, decided to end his 25-year career at Anfield in part due to being told by Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers that he would have to accept a lesser role.
He will arrive at the Galaxy in July when his Reds contract expires, with head coach Bruce Arena revealing he intends to play Gerrard as often as he can.
In the past two seasons at Liverpool, Gerrard has been largely deployed by Rodgers as a holding midfielder, but Arena is set to use him further up the pitch.
"I will manage his minutes, I'm going to try and get him on the field as much as possible," Arena said in a conference call.
"My best guess is that we will play him closer to a forward than towards our centre-backs. He's a player with obviously very good attacking qualities and we want to get him pushed as close to goal as we can, when we can.
"I think we can accommodate that through a variety of positions. It'll take a little bit of time but we'll get it figured out by the time Stevie arrives."