Palsson's shock to play alongside Stevie

Palsson, 18, only joined Liverpool in January from Danish side Aarhus and looks set to be installed as the skipper of the Anfield club’s second string this season. He held on to the armband on Tuesday night when he captained the side to a 1-0 pre-season friendly victory at Cambridge United.

But when Gerrard turned up last week at short notice following his court case to play in the second string’s 2-2 draw at Tranmere, Palsson was not sure how to react.

The Iceland under-19 said: “It was all a bit of a surprise, we were all excited. But when Steven Gerrard turned up in the dressing room I felt I had to ask him whether he minded that I was to have the captain’s armband and not him.

“(Reserve team manager) John McMahon wanted me to do the job, and Steven was very good about it and told me to get on with it.”

The midfielder added: “Playing alongside him was a great experience, he was talking to me and helping me all the time.”

Palsson is rated highly at Liverpool, as is Argentinean starlet Gerardo Bruna, the former Real Madrid player scoring the winner at Cambridge.

The reserves’ next game is a friendly away to Notts County tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Bayer Leverkusen defender Sami Hyypia admits his decision to leave Liverpool to join the Bundesliga club this summer was made easier by the recommendations of several former Anfield teammates.

The Finn did not need to think for too long when Bayer showed their interest but the enthusiastic words from Markus Babbel and Dietmar Hamann made his mind up for him.

“I had several options to continue playing in the Premier League but, after 10 years in Liverpool, it would have been difficult for me to be accepted by the fans at another club,” he said.

“The offer from Leverkusen therefore came at just the right time. I chatted with my former teammates Markus Babbel, Philipp Degen and Didi Hamann. They all spoke very positively about Bayer Leverkusen and that made my decision easy.”

The fact he made only 12 appearances for Liverpool in the Premier League last season also influenced his decision to move on and find one last challenge in his career at the age of 35.

“I am not the kind of person who is happy to train every day only to sit on the bench or be sat at home on match day,” he said. “That is why I decided to do something different.

“I have come here to play football since there is nothing worse for a footballer than to sit on the bench.

“Of course I am going to have to fight for my place but I am giving everything I have and working hard every day to do that.”

Hyypia signed a two-year contract with Leverkusen but has not ruled out playing on beyond his 37th birthday if he settles in well.

He said: “We will see how I feel in two years. I can certainly imagine playing on for longer but I will decide that when the time comes.”