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Liverpool are making a big mistake in allowing Steven Gerrard to leave the club, according to Paul Merson and Neil McCann.
Gerrard will join up with LA Galaxy in July and played his final game for Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Stoke.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is expected to launch a major rebuilding job this summer but Gerrard will not be part of the plans as he begins life in the MLS.
Merson insists Gerrard is still world class and thinks it is a mistake to let a player of his calibre leave.
"He’s still their best player and is their top scorer," he told the Morning View.
"I can’t believe they haven’t kept this lad, he’s world class - and they haven’t got any world class players. He’s their world class player. To let him go is really beyond me."
McCann feels Liverpool needed him to attract star-quality signings in the summer as they look to strengthen their squad after a disappointing campaign.
"He is still one of the top performers in the country by a long way," he said. "To have an icon like Steven Gerrard leaving the club is almost criminal.
"To keep someone as an attraction at the club is so important."
Liverpool are making a big mistake in allowing Steven Gerrard to leave the club, according to Paul Merson and Neil McCann.
Gerrard will join up with LA Galaxy in July and played his final game for Liverpool at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday, a humiliating 6-1 defeat to Stoke.
Boss Brendan Rodgers is expected to launch a major rebuilding job this summer but Gerrard will not be part of the plans as he begins life in the MLS.
Merson insists Gerrard is still world class and thinks it is a mistake to let a player of his calibre leave.
"He’s still their best player and is their top scorer," he told the Morning View.
"I can’t believe they haven’t kept this lad, he’s world class - and they haven’t got any world class players. He’s their world class player. To let him go is really beyond me."
McCann feels Liverpool needed him to attract star-quality signings in the summer as they look to strengthen their squad after a disappointing campaign.
"He is still one of the top performers in the country by a long way," he said. "To have an icon like Steven Gerrard leaving the club is almost criminal.
"To keep someone as an attraction at the club is so important."
Brendan Rodgers has been backed to turn things around at Liverpool amid speculation over his future.
Liverpool suffered a 6-1 defeat to Stoke on the final day of the season which has intensified pressure on Rodgers ahead of a meeting with FSG this week.
Rodgers made a number of signings last summer but the Morning View panel believe he will again have to strengthen his squad in all areas.
Niall Quinn accepts the loss of Luis Suarez was one which had a detrimental impact on the team, while Alan Smith and Neil McCann feel Rodgers needs to find the right blend at Liverpool.
“He is a talented coach and has got a lot of work to do," said Smith. "He is going to have to hope that some of the lads that he’s brought in that didn’t do so well this season will develop in the second season, the likes of Markovic, Moreno and Can.
"It is going to be a hard job getting them where he wants them to be in the next couple of years but if I was a betting man I’d say he will be there.”
McCann claimed Rodgers needs to focus on strenghtening his squad in defensive areas.
“Momentum is a great thing in sport," he said. "It was a crushing blow to be so close to title so late on (last season). As Alan said the money he has spent and the guys he has brought recruited have not done it.
"A certain way that Brendan wants to play is attractive to watch sometimes but ultimately defensively they have been poor. They have been too open. There are too many good sides in the Premier League.
"I think the owners with the money they have given Brendan to spend will want to see them being recognised as a top team. It might upset a few Liverpool fans but they are not one of the top teams in England and they should be.
"I do think Brendan will be given another opportunity and should be given another opportunity. He must adapt his style a little bit."
Niall Quinn added: “They signed a lot of players with the funds that came in for Suarez, but how do you replace Suarez? I have a lot of sympathy for Brendan Rodgers there.
"If you would have held on to Suarez for another year or two things might have been a lot different. Brendan should be given more time, because they are his players and they were given to him in a bundle at the start of this season.
"They may have been shaky defensively but they need a goal scorer and Sturridge has to get himself back next year back in top form.”
Brendan Rodgers has been backed to turn things around at Liverpool amid speculation over his future.
Liverpool suffered a 6-1 defeat to Stoke on the final day of the season which has intensified pressure on Rodgers ahead of a meeting with FSG this week.
Rodgers made a number of signings last summer but the Morning View panel believe he will again have to strengthen his squad in all areas.
Niall Quinn accepts the loss of Luis Suarez was one which had a detrimental impact on the team, while Alan Smith and Neil McCann feel Rodgers needs to find the right blend at Liverpool.
“He is a talented coach and has got a lot of work to do," said Smith. "He is going to have to hope that some of the lads that he’s brought in that didn’t do so well this season will develop in the second season, the likes of Markovic, Moreno and Can.
"It is going to be a hard job getting them where he wants them to be in the next couple of years but if I was a betting man I’d say he will be there.”
McCann claimed Rodgers needs to focus on strenghtening his squad in defensive areas.
“Momentum is a great thing in sport," he said. "It was a crushing blow to be so close to title so late on (last season). As Alan said the money he has spent and the guys he has brought recruited have not done it.
"A certain way that Brendan wants to play is attractive to watch sometimes but ultimately defensively they have been poor. They have been too open. There are too many good sides in the Premier League.
"I think the owners with the money they have given Brendan to spend will want to see them being recognised as a top team. It might upset a few Liverpool fans but they are not one of the top teams in England and they should be.
"I do think Brendan will be given another opportunity and should be given another opportunity. He must adapt his style a little bit."
Niall Quinn added: “They signed a lot of players with the funds that came in for Suarez, but how do you replace Suarez? I have a lot of sympathy for Brendan Rodgers there.
"If you would have held on to Suarez for another year or two things might have been a lot different. Brendan should be given more time, because they are his players and they were given to him in a bundle at the start of this season.
"They may have been shaky defensively but they need a goal scorer and Sturridge has to get himself back next year back in top form.”
Defender Kolo Toure believes he is close to agreeing a contract extension at Liverpool.
The 34-year-old former Ivory Coast international is keen to finish his career in England and wants to stay at Anfield.
Toure is confident of sorting out a new 12-month deal, saying: "I think the situation will be resolved soon. We are talking.
“There are few things more but we will see. Liverpool is a great club for me to stay at. Liverpool is going to be massive.
"I love Premier League football and I played all my years here. If I can finish here (Liverpool) it would be great.
"My kids go to school here and they are half-English and that is important as well.
"I play for Liverpool right now and I am very happy and if it was to carry on, I'd be more than happy."
As for their 6-1 defeat at Stoke on Sunday, he added: "It is not a great finish to the season and it is difficult to find words at the end of that.
"We were expecting a better result for Liverpool and Stevie (Gerrard) as well for what he has done. We wanted to do better for him.”
Defender Kolo Toure believes he is close to agreeing a contract extension at Liverpool.
The 34-year-old former Ivory Coast international is keen to finish his career in England and wants to stay at Anfield.
Toure is confident of sorting out a new 12-month deal, saying: "I think the situation will be resolved soon. We are talking.
“There are few things more but we will see. Liverpool is a great club for me to stay at. Liverpool is going to be massive.
"I love Premier League football and I played all my years here. If I can finish here (Liverpool) it would be great.
"My kids go to school here and they are half-English and that is important as well.
"I play for Liverpool right now and I am very happy and if it was to carry on, I'd be more than happy."
As for their 6-1 defeat at Stoke on Sunday, he added: "It is not a great finish to the season and it is difficult to find words at the end of that.
"We were expecting a better result for Liverpool and Stevie (Gerrard) as well for what he has done. We wanted to do better for him.”
Mark Hughes believes most teams would have struggled to cope with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday when they put six past Liverpool.
In his two years in charge, Hughes has guided Stoke to successive ninth-placed finishes, setting plenty of records along the way.
Last season's tally of 50 points was a record as the Potters finished inside the top 10 of the Premier League for the first time, but they ended this campaign with 54, as well as a positive goal difference for the first time.
"We couldn't have asked for a better finish to a really great season," Hughes said after Sunday's game.
"The level of performance in that first 45 minutes was exceptional and I don't think it reflects badly on Liverpool. I think most teams would have struggled to cope with the quality and intensity of our play.
"It is a great performance against a very good team with great individual talents, and we have been able to get the level of performance that I think a lot of people sensed we were capable of.
"Everything came together and we showed what a good side we are."
Stoke blitzed their hosts in a 23-minute spell from the middle of the first half, with Mame Diouf (two), Jon Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi putting them 5-0 up before the break.
Substitute Peter Crouch rounded off the scoring late on after Steven Gerrard, on his 710th and last appearance for the club, scored a goal which brought the whole of the Britannia Stadium to its feet.
"I am sure Steven wasn't anticipating the manner of that being his last performance, but credit to him he was trying to drive his team on and it was great he got that reception from our supporters when he scored," said Hughes.
"It is only right and proper we recognise the impact he has had in English football and at his club as well.
"To a man everyone applauded that goal. I wish him well, he has been a credit to his country and his club as well."
Mark Hughes believes most teams would have struggled to cope with Stoke at the Britannia Stadium on Sunday when they put six past Liverpool.
In his two years in charge, Hughes has guided Stoke to successive ninth-placed finishes, setting plenty of records along the way.
Last season's tally of 50 points was a record as the Potters finished inside the top 10 of the Premier League for the first time, but they ended this campaign with 54, as well as a positive goal difference for the first time.
"We couldn't have asked for a better finish to a really great season," Hughes said after Sunday's game.
"The level of performance in that first 45 minutes was exceptional and I don't think it reflects badly on Liverpool. I think most teams would have struggled to cope with the quality and intensity of our play.
"It is a great performance against a very good team with great individual talents, and we have been able to get the level of performance that I think a lot of people sensed we were capable of.
"Everything came together and we showed what a good side we are."
Stoke blitzed their hosts in a 23-minute spell from the middle of the first half, with Mame Diouf (two), Jon Walters, Charlie Adam and Steven Nzonzi putting them 5-0 up before the break.
Substitute Peter Crouch rounded off the scoring late on after Steven Gerrard, on his 710th and last appearance for the club, scored a goal which brought the whole of the Britannia Stadium to its feet.
"I am sure Steven wasn't anticipating the manner of that being his last performance, but credit to him he was trying to drive his team on and it was great he got that reception from our supporters when he scored," said Hughes.
"It is only right and proper we recognise the impact he has had in English football and at his club as well.
"To a man everyone applauded that goal. I wish him well, he has been a credit to his country and his club as well."
Liverpool forward Divock Origi has been named in Ligue 1's worst team of the season by French newspaper L’Equipe after his year on loan at Lille.
The striker has scored eight times in 33 appearances for the French side, who finished eighth in Ligue 1 this season.
But the 20-year-old has failed to win fans over in France during a difficult campaign, during which he went over five months without scoring between October and March.
L’Equipe rated every player over the course of the season, and the Belgium international ended the campaign with an average rating of 4.46, putting him in the newspaper’s worst XI.
Liverpool signed the striker for £10m from Lille last summer but let him stay at the club to develop before moving to Anfield at the end of this campaign.
The Reds have struggled for goals this season as they ended in sixth place, with Steven Gerrard’s nine goals making him the club’s top scorer in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers’ men scored just 52 times in the top flight this season, compared to 101 last term, and the Reds will be hoping Origi can bring goals to Anfield.
Liverpool forward Divock Origi has been named in Ligue 1's worst team of the season by French newspaper L’Equipe after his year on loan at Lille.
The striker has scored eight times in 33 appearances for the French side, who finished eighth in Ligue 1 this season.
But the 20-year-old has failed to win fans over in France during a difficult campaign, during which he went over five months without scoring between October and March.
L’Equipe rated every player over the course of the season, and the Belgium international ended the campaign with an average rating of 4.46, putting him in the newspaper’s worst XI.
Liverpool signed the striker for £10m from Lille last summer but let him stay at the club to develop before moving to Anfield at the end of this campaign.
The Reds have struggled for goals this season as they ended in sixth place, with Steven Gerrard’s nine goals making him the club’s top scorer in the Premier League.
Brendan Rodgers’ men scored just 52 times in the top flight this season, compared to 101 last term, and the Reds will be hoping Origi can bring goals to Anfield.
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers apologised to the travelling fans after his side's 6-1 defeat at Stoke City but insisted he is the right man to lead the club.
Mark Hughes’ side ran riot in the first half as they raced to a 5-0 lead, ending the contest after just 45 minutes.
It was a disappointing end to Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool career, and Rodgers was dejected after their first-half display.
“I’ve got two apologies to make,” he said. “Firstly to the supporters because it was nowhere near good enough or competitive enough from any of us representing Liverpool today. A very, very poor performance in that first half.
“The second apology goes to my son [Swindon player Anton Rodgers], because I was supposed to go down to Wembley to see him in the [League One] play-off final, but I can’t leave here and shoot away after that.
“There’s a lot of reflecting to do after that performance. Just a really disappointing first half.
“We were really defensively poor in a couple of moments that we spoke about before the game, in terms of stopping crosses. We were too easily beaten in one-v-one situations and that led to openings for them to score.
“There were some outstanding goals but we certainly didn’t help ourselves.”
Asked if he understood the pressure was building on him, the Northern Irishman said: "Yes, absolutely. I've always said that if the owners want me to go, then I go. It's as simple as that.
"But I still feel I've got a lot to offer the club. A lot has happened this year which has made the job difficult, but I totally understand that."
The Liverpool boss also explained his decision to drop Raheem Sterling to the bench, after the 20-year-old has dominated the headlines amid a contract row with the club.
"I felt there’s obviously been a lot going on in the past weeks in particular," he said. "And I felt there were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It was as simple as that, really."
Gerrard scored Liverpool’s solitary goal on Sunday afternoon, meaning he finished the season with nine Premier League strikes and ended as the club’s top scorer.
It’s the second season in succession their top scorer as departed, after Luis Suarez’s exit last summer, and Rodgers admitted there needs to be an improvement in front of goal.
He said: “We finish in sixth position, which is where we deserve to finish. It’s a big, big summer ahead. We lose Steven after today and you’ve seen again his inspiration in the team to get a goal. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.
“I think it’s clear, you look at our goals over the course of the season and [the lack of goals] has been the major contributing factor.
“I’ve had to look at different ideas and different ways to make the team create and score more.
“We’ve taken our beating today. Stoke were better than us, especially in that first half. Second half we were much better and much more authoritative in the game, but still we can’t take much away from losing 6-1.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers apologised to the travelling fans after his side's 6-1 defeat at Stoke City but insisted he is the right man to lead the club.
Mark Hughes’ side ran riot in the first half as they raced to a 5-0 lead, ending the contest after just 45 minutes.
It was a disappointing end to Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool career, and Rodgers was dejected after their first-half display.
“I’ve got two apologies to make,” he said. “Firstly to the supporters because it was nowhere near good enough or competitive enough from any of us representing Liverpool today. A very, very poor performance in that first half.
“The second apology goes to my son [Swindon player Anton Rodgers], because I was supposed to go down to Wembley to see him in the [League One] play-off final, but I can’t leave here and shoot away after that.
“There’s a lot of reflecting to do after that performance. Just a really disappointing first half.
“We were really defensively poor in a couple of moments that we spoke about before the game, in terms of stopping crosses. We were too easily beaten in one-v-one situations and that led to openings for them to score.
“There were some outstanding goals but we certainly didn’t help ourselves.”
Asked if he understood the pressure was building on him, the Northern Irishman said: "Yes, absolutely. I've always said that if the owners want me to go, then I go. It's as simple as that.
"But I still feel I've got a lot to offer the club. A lot has happened this year which has made the job difficult, but I totally understand that."
The Liverpool boss also explained his decision to drop Raheem Sterling to the bench, after the 20-year-old has dominated the headlines amid a contract row with the club.
"I felt there’s obviously been a lot going on in the past weeks in particular," he said. "And I felt there were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It was as simple as that, really."
Gerrard scored Liverpool’s solitary goal on Sunday afternoon, meaning he finished the season with nine Premier League strikes and ended as the club’s top scorer.
It’s the second season in succession their top scorer as departed, after Luis Suarez’s exit last summer, and Rodgers admitted there needs to be an improvement in front of goal.
He said: “We finish in sixth position, which is where we deserve to finish. It’s a big, big summer ahead. We lose Steven after today and you’ve seen again his inspiration in the team to get a goal. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.
“I think it’s clear, you look at our goals over the course of the season and [the lack of goals] has been the major contributing factor.
“I’ve had to look at different ideas and different ways to make the team create and score more.
“We’ve taken our beating today. Stoke were better than us, especially in that first half. Second half we were much better and much more authoritative in the game, but still we can’t take much away from losing 6-1.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers apologised to the travelling fans after his side's 6-1 defeat at Stoke City but insisted he is the right man to lead the club.
Mark Hughes’ side ran riot in the first half as they raced to a 5-0 lead, ending the contest after just 45 minutes.
It was a disappointing end to Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool career, and Rodgers was dejected after their first-half display.
“I’ve got two apologies to make,” he said. “Firstly to the supporters because it was nowhere near good enough or competitive enough from any of us representing Liverpool today. A very, very poor performance in that first half.
“The second apology goes to my son [Swindon player Anton Rodgers], because I was supposed to go down to Wembley to see him in the [League One] play-off final, but I can’t leave here and shoot away after that.
“There’s a lot of reflecting to do after that performance. Just a really disappointing first half.
“We were really defensively poor in a couple of moments that we spoke about before the game, in terms of stopping crosses. We were too easily beaten in one-v-one situations and that led to openings for them to score.
“There were some outstanding goals but we certainly didn’t help ourselves.”
Asked if he understood the pressure was building on him, the Northern Irishman said: "Yes, absolutely. I've always said that if the owners want me to go, then I go. It's as simple as that.
"But I still feel I've got a lot to offer the club. A lot has happened this year which has made the job difficult, but I totally understand that."
The Liverpool boss also explained his decision to drop Raheem Sterling to the bench, after the 20-year-old has dominated the headlines amid a contract row with the club.
"I felt there’s obviously been a lot going on in the past weeks in particular," he said. "And I felt there were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It was as simple as that, really."
Gerrard scored Liverpool’s solitary goal on Sunday afternoon, meaning he finished the season with nine Premier League strikes and ended as the club’s top scorer.
It’s the second season in succession their top scorer as departed, after Luis Suarez’s exit last summer, and Rodgers admitted there needs to be an improvement in front of goal.
He said: “We finish in sixth position, which is where we deserve to finish. It’s a big, big summer ahead. We lose Steven after today and you’ve seen again his inspiration in the team to get a goal. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.
“I think it’s clear, you look at our goals over the course of the season and [the lack of goals] has been the major contributing factor.
“I’ve had to look at different ideas and different ways to make the team create and score more.
“We’ve taken our beating today. Stoke were better than us, especially in that first half. Second half we were much better and much more authoritative in the game, but still we can’t take much away from losing 6-1.”
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers apologised to the travelling fans after his side's 6-1 defeat at Stoke City but insisted he is the right man to lead the club.
Mark Hughes’ side ran riot in the first half as they raced to a 5-0 lead, ending the contest after just 45 minutes.
It was a disappointing end to Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool career, and Rodgers was dejected after their first-half display.
“I’ve got two apologies to make,” he said. “Firstly to the supporters because it was nowhere near good enough or competitive enough from any of us representing Liverpool today. A very, very poor performance in that first half.
“The second apology goes to my son [Swindon player Anton Rodgers], because I was supposed to go down to Wembley to see him in the [League One] play-off final, but I can’t leave here and shoot away after that.
“There’s a lot of reflecting to do after that performance. Just a really disappointing first half.
“We were really defensively poor in a couple of moments that we spoke about before the game, in terms of stopping crosses. We were too easily beaten in one-v-one situations and that led to openings for them to score.
“There were some outstanding goals but we certainly didn’t help ourselves.”
Asked if he understood the pressure was building on him, the Northern Irishman said: "Yes, absolutely. I've always said that if the owners want me to go, then I go. It's as simple as that.
"But I still feel I've got a lot to offer the club. A lot has happened this year which has made the job difficult, but I totally understand that."
The Liverpool boss also explained his decision to drop Raheem Sterling to the bench, after the 20-year-old has dominated the headlines amid a contract row with the club.
"I felt there’s obviously been a lot going on in the past weeks in particular," he said. "And I felt there were other players mentally better positioned to play in the game. It was as simple as that, really."
Gerrard scored Liverpool’s solitary goal on Sunday afternoon, meaning he finished the season with nine Premier League strikes and ended as the club’s top scorer.
It’s the second season in succession their top scorer as departed, after Luis Suarez’s exit last summer, and Rodgers admitted there needs to be an improvement in front of goal.
He said: “We finish in sixth position, which is where we deserve to finish. It’s a big, big summer ahead. We lose Steven after today and you’ve seen again his inspiration in the team to get a goal. We’ve got a hell of a lot of work to do.
“I think it’s clear, you look at our goals over the course of the season and [the lack of goals] has been the major contributing factor.
“I’ve had to look at different ideas and different ways to make the team create and score more.
“We’ve taken our beating today. Stoke were better than us, especially in that first half. Second half we were much better and much more authoritative in the game, but still we can’t take much away from losing 6-1.”
Stoke ruined Steven Gerrard’s farewell as they hammered Liverpool 6-1 after a superb first-half display at the Britannia Stadium.
Mame Biram Diouf fired a quick double before Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and a Steven N’Zonzi thunderbolt put the hosts five in front at half time.
Gerrard got on the scoresheet as he signed off with a goal in the second half, before Peter Crouch added a sixth to overtake Alan Shearer in the charts for most headed Premier League goals.
The big news before the game was the omission of Raheem Sterling from the starting line-up, after a contract row which culminated in the club cancelling scheduled talks with the 20-year-old.
Attention soon turned to Gerrard’s farewell, but it was to be a miserable afternoon where he conceded five goals in a Premier League game for the first time.
Tottenham’s win at Everton means the Reds end up in sixth place, and they will have to await the result of the FA Cup final to see at which stage they will enter the Europa League next season.
More to follow…
Stoke ruined Steven Gerrard’s farewell as they hammered Liverpool 6-1 after a superb first-half display at the Britannia Stadium.
Mame Biram Diouf fired a quick double before Jonathan Walters, Charlie Adam and a Steven N’Zonzi thunderbolt put the hosts five in front at half time.
Gerrard got on the scoresheet as he signed off with a goal in the second half, before Peter Crouch added a sixth to overtake Alan Shearer in the charts for most headed Premier League goals.
The big news before the game was the omission of Raheem Sterling from the starting line-up, after a contract row which culminated in the club cancelling scheduled talks with the 20-year-old.
Attention soon turned to Gerrard’s farewell, but it was to be a miserable afternoon where he conceded five goals in a Premier League game for the first time.
Tottenham’s win at Everton means the Reds end up in sixth place, and they will have to await the result of the FA Cup final to see at which stage they will enter the Europa League next season.
More to follow…
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