Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been treated "unfairly" regarding speculation over his first-team place, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.
Gerrard has only recently returned to full fitness after a month out with a hamstring injury.
The midfielder will leave Liverpool at the end of the season to join MLS side LA Galaxy, but reports last Monday suggested that Rodgers felt he could no longer be guaranteed a starting spot.
Gerrard came on as a substitute as the Reds won 1-0 at Swansea on Monday, and is available for Sunday's Premier League home match against Manchester United.
Rodgers, though, insists that his captain remains committed to the club, and feels that speculation about his place in the starting lineup is unhelpful.
He said: "I've got to say I think it's been really unfair on the boy. This is a guy who has been a wonderful player. He's still a wonderful player.
"When he was injured, people were trying to sensationalise stories about whether he'd get in the team or not. Steven was unfit. He was injured. People were trying to write him off when he wasn't fit.
"He's back fit, and he's available now. I can tell you now -- this may not be the story you want -- he's a guy who is totally committed to the team. He's a fan of this club.
"He would like to play. But his support to Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen has been fantastic and his support to me has been incredible.
"There are lots of stories going about. People are trying to predict the team. The poor guy wasn't even fit. He was on the treatment table trying to get back for the benefit of the team. Anyone who knows him knows he's a selfless guy who wants to help the team.
"He's going to have a big part to play in our final games. He's a wonderful player and a great captain.
"Maybe some people are trying to make a negative story about him, which couldn't be further from the truth."
Meanwhile, Rodgers is confident that winger Raheem Sterling's contract talks will be resolved in the summer.
Negotiations began last autumn to extend the England international's deal to 2020, from its current end date of 2017.
However, Sterling and his agent Aidy Ward have postponed talks until the end of the season, prompting speculation over the future of a player who has been linked with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
Rodgers said: "It's been made clear by Raheem's representative and the boy himself that he wants to concentrate on his football and see what can be resolved in the summer.
"The boy's happy here. If you have the interest of the kid and his football development, you'll see at this stage of his career, this is the best place for him to be.
"I'm sure that will be resolved. The concentration for him is on his football. It's clear in terms of when those talks will begin again."