LIVERPOOL -- Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has told Glen Johnson to forget about his contract uncertainty and focus on football.
Rodgers said the England full-back had shown "commitment" and "courage" to score the decisive goal against Stoke on Saturday, taking a knock to the head as he nodded in a rebound to win the game at Anfield 1-0.
Johnson, out of contract at the end of the season, revealed after the game that he had not been offered a new deal despite talks between the club and his representatives.
And the former West Ham and Chelsea player, 30, insisted he would not "go crawling to anybody" in order to extend his stay.
It is thought that Johnson, who arrived from Portsmouth for 17 million pounds in 2009 and signed his current contract in 2011, would have to accept a significant pay cut in order to stand a chance of staying at Anfield.
Rodgers told a news conference: "For Glen, there were discussions between the club and his representatives towards the end of last season and in the summer.
"That's something that's between them, really. How far down the line that is at this time I'm not so sure.
"I had a conversation with Glen only the other week, saying that -- irrespective of where it's at -- it's in his best interests to keep his focus and concentration, and to keep working well.
"There haven't been too many times here when he hasn't played, apart from when he's been injured. But he's been first class.
"I think his goal at the weekend probably typified his commitment to the team and the cause in terms of what we're doing. He showed great courage."
Rodgers, who said talks were ongoing over a new deal for vice-captain Jordan Henderson, takes his side to Leicester in the Premier League on Tuesday after they ended their five-match winless run on Saturday.
Centre-back Mamadou Sakho has returned to full training, having been out of action since late September with a thigh injury.
But striker Mario Balotelli remains absent with the groin injury that forced him to pull out of the Italy squad for the Euro 2016 qualifier against Croatia last month.
Balotelli has missed Liverpool's last three matches, and with Daniel Sturridge out until the New Year because of a thigh injury Rickie Lambert is likely to continue in attack.
Rodgers said: "The squad will be pretty much the same as it was on Saturday. Sakho trained yesterday with the team for the first time, but won't be match ready. Mario's still not fit."