Liverpool, June 1 (IANS): Liverpool football club striker Daniel Sturridge says departing captain Steven Gerrard is "a dream to play with", adding that the ace midfielder played a key role in advancing the careers of a number of his former teammates.

Former England captain Gerrard is set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) side LA Galaxy this summer in the United States, bringing to an end a 17-year association with Liverpool.

Sturridge has now hailed the 35-year-old, insisting that Gerrard has a remarkably positive influence on the strikers he plays with, including the likes of Michael Owen and Luis Suarez.

"I think for a striker he's a dream to play with because you're always going to get chances, you're always going to score and the players that have been here have reaped the rewards of playing with him as well," Sturridge was quoted as saying by Liverpool's website on Sunday.

"If you look at Michael Owen and Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez -- all their careers have elevated from playing with Stevie, just as they've helped him. But I think as strikers you need players who give you the ball in the right areas."

Gerrard scored 186 goals in 710 appearances for Liverpool.

"If you ask a lot of players around the world who they would've liked to have played with, a lot of them would say Stevie because of the pinpoint passing accuracy he has, as well as getting stuck in and spraying balls 40 yards -- as the song sung by Liverpool fans says," the 25-year-old said.

"He's a great player, one of the legends. I think he's the best that Liverpool have ever had, in my opinion," Sturridge said.