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Ben Twelves discusses how Liverpool should be utilising Steven Gerrard during his final days at Anfield.
The dreaded day of Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool exit is finally upon us and it will be a sad day in the club’s history when the inspirational Kop legend heads off for pastures new after 17 years of unrivalled service.
But while the clock begins to tick down and Gerrard’s departure draws ever closer, Liverpool Football Club still have an almighty battle to face on the pitch for the remainder of the season in four competitions, beginning in the FA Cup with a trip to Wimbledon for a third round tie on Monday night.
The Reds also sit in the semi-final stage of the Capital One Cup with Chelsea to face, seven points off a top four place with a huge task ahead of them to claw it back, and in the last 32 of the increasingly important Europa League tournament but how should Gerrard contribute in the games for the rest of the campaign?
Life Without Steven Gerrard
The second half of the season is set to be a testing but vital time for Brendan Rodgers and his team and it’s a time that the Liverpool manager must finally recognise that the Huyton-born midfielder is no longer the man to turn to as the Reds embark on a huge challenge.
Rodgers has so far badly mismanaged the Kop legend and has far from helped preserve Gerrard’s diminishing powers, but with the captain’s presence at Melwood and Anfield ticking down, the Liverpool manager has to begin preparations for the future without Captain Fantastic.
While Gerrard was firmly a part of the club’s plans going forward, it was perhaps understandable – though frustrating – as to why the Liverpool boss continually selected the inspirational figure with seemingly little consideration over the implications, but with the boyhood Red now with his sights set on leaving L4 in just over four months’ time, there is no excuse to not finally begin phasing him out ahead of his exit.
There needs to be no more of starting Gerrard in five games out of a possible six to give the team a chance to fully function without having to compensate for the Captain’s tiring legs, and he must feature far more regularly on the bench to give the younger midfielders consistent games to establish themselves for the future.
The Captain has struggled to impose himself in matches – despite an all too rare moment of magic – and the team function better without him in the starting XI – as epitomised by the contrast in performances and results against Swansea and Leicester just this week. That is in no way a dig at who I regard as the club’s greatest ever; it is simply and indictment of the situation.
The players and staff have to begin preparing for life without Steven and start to find ways of sharing the burden left and so often shouldered by the Liverpool number 8. It’s time others stepped up to the plate both individually and collectively as a group to take over the baton.
Making the Most of Gerrard
A once in a lifetime player by all accounts, Gerrard could still have a role to play for the remainder of his days with a Liver bird upon his chest.
With the amount of games playing in four competitions brings, the Reds will be faced with the prospect of playing three games in a week frequently with little respite, and naturally, there will be plenty of opportunities for rotation in which Gerrard should feature.
Minutes on the pitch will be even more cherished moments and the Scouser will undoubtedly work as hard – if not even harder – to make sure he ends on a high with silverware up for grabs in the three cup competitions. What a fitting ending it would be if he could inspire the Reds once more to lift the Europa League, FA Cup or League Cup once again.
The 34-year-old may struggle in a two man midfield – as he has throughout his career – but within the right system and with the right players around him, Gerrard could absolutely contribute heavily before he waves Anfield goodbye.
He still possesses the quality to make a difference as widely recognised by his peers and as he has already at times this season – with Basel and Leicester City away springing to mind where he played a more advanced role – and it’s far from inconceivable that Gerrard could make another return to a more attacking position where he spends more time in front of goal. Who else would you want to see the ball drop to in and around the box?
Conclusion
If one thing is for certain, it’s that no-one wants to see Steven Gerrard play out his remaining four months at Anfield exposed, chasing shadows and being bypassed in the Liverpool midfield and by the same token, the man himself wouldn’t either.
A lesser role for his final days is essential as the Reds look to find their feet with their talisman set to move on, but when the captain is handed minutes, it should be with high up the pitch, causing danger and scoring goals in the position behind the front man where he lit up the footballing world.
.
Ben Twelves discusses how Liverpool should be utilising Steven Gerrard during his final days at Anfield.
The dreaded day of Steven Gerrard’s Liverpool exit is finally upon us and it will be a sad day in the club’s history when the inspirational Kop legend heads off for pastures new after 17 years of unrivalled service.
But while the clock begins to tick down and Gerrard’s departure draws ever closer, Liverpool Football Club still have an almighty battle to face on the pitch for the remainder of the season in four competitions, beginning in the FA Cup with a trip to Wimbledon for a third round tie on Monday night.
The Reds also sit in the semi-final stage of the Capital One Cup with Chelsea to face, seven points off a top four place with a huge task ahead of them to claw it back, and in the last 32 of the increasingly important Europa League tournament but how should Gerrard contribute in the games for the rest of the campaign?
Life Without Steven Gerrard
The second half of the season is set to be a testing but vital time for Brendan Rodgers and his team and it’s a time that the Liverpool manager must finally recognise that the Huyton-born midfielder is no longer the man to turn to as the Reds embark on a huge challenge.
Rodgers has so far badly mismanaged the Kop legend and has far from helped preserve Gerrard’s diminishing powers, but with the captain’s presence at Melwood and Anfield ticking down, the Liverpool manager has to begin preparations for the future without Captain Fantastic.
While Gerrard was firmly a part of the club’s plans going forward, it was perhaps understandable – though frustrating – as to why the Liverpool boss continually selected the inspirational figure with seemingly little consideration over the implications, but with the boyhood Red now with his sights set on leaving L4 in just over four months’ time, there is no excuse to not finally begin phasing him out ahead of his exit.
There needs to be no more of starting Gerrard in five games out of a possible six to give the team a chance to fully function without having to compensate for the Captain’s tiring legs, and he must feature far more regularly on the bench to give the younger midfielders consistent games to establish themselves for the future.
The Captain has struggled to impose himself in matches – despite an all too rare moment of magic – and the team function better without him in the starting XI – as epitomised by the contrast in performances and results against Swansea and Leicester just this week. That is in no way a dig at who I regard as the club’s greatest ever; it is simply and indictment of the situation.
The players and staff have to begin preparing for life without Steven and start to find ways of sharing the burden left and so often shouldered by the Liverpool number 8. It’s time others stepped up to the plate both individually and collectively as a group to take over the baton.
Making the Most of Gerrard
A once in a lifetime player by all accounts, Gerrard could still have a role to play for the remainder of his days with a Liver bird upon his chest.
With the amount of games playing in four competitions brings, the Reds will be faced with the prospect of playing three games in a week frequently with little respite, and naturally, there will be plenty of opportunities for rotation in which Gerrard should feature.
Minutes on the pitch will be even more cherished moments and the Scouser will undoubtedly work as hard – if not even harder – to make sure he ends on a high with silverware up for grabs in the three cup competitions. What a fitting ending it would be if he could inspire the Reds once more to lift the Europa League, FA Cup or League Cup once again.
The 34-year-old may struggle in a two man midfield – as he has throughout his career – but within the right system and with the right players around him, Gerrard could absolutely contribute heavily before he waves Anfield goodbye.
He still possesses the quality to make a difference as widely recognised by his peers and as he has already at times this season – with Basel and Leicester City away springing to mind where he played a more advanced role – and it’s far from inconceivable that Gerrard could make another return to a more attacking position where he spends more time in front of goal. Who else would you want to see the ball drop to in and around the box?
Conclusion
If one thing is for certain, it’s that no-one wants to see Steven Gerrard play out his remaining four months at Anfield exposed, chasing shadows and being bypassed in the Liverpool midfield and by the same token, the man himself wouldn’t either.
A lesser role for his final days is essential as the Reds look to find their feet with their talisman set to move on, but when the captain is handed minutes, it should be with high up the pitch, causing danger and scoring goals in the position behind the front man where he lit up the footballing world.
.
With the January transfer window now open, Jack Lusby suggests that Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama should be made a top priority for Liverpool.
Simon Mignolet is one player Liverpool need replacing in January, and the man do so is Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
The news that Mark Schwarzer, Chelsea’s third goalkeeper, was set to join Premier League relegation battler Leicester City this January dealt Liverpool a blow in their pursuit of another Blues goalkeeper.
The Telegraph’s John Percy, commenting on the deal, claimed “the possibility that Jose Mourinho will allow Petr Cech to leave on loan or be sold during the January window has become less likely.”
Elsewhere, Fiorentina shot-stopper Neto, Genoa’s Mattia Perin, Malaga’s Guillermo Ochoa and the more ridiculously speculated John Ruddy and Iker Casillas have all been linked with moves to Anfield.
It’s clear that Liverpool need a goalkeeper, with both Mignolet and Brad Jones falling far below par for a top-four challenging side.
While some of these would be wise choices by Rodgers this January, instead a move for Lille’s Enyeama could turn Liverpool’s season around.
Vincent Enyeama
The 32-year-old perennial Football Manager must-buy joined the Ligue 1 side in 2011, but it has taken a while for Enyeama to establish himself at Lille.
A 2012/13 loan at Maccabi Tel Aviv saw the Nigerian earn his stripes and a place in Rene Girard’s first team.
Enyeama is a confident, athletic shot-stopper with a great command of his penalty area, and has been an outstanding feature in the past two World Cup competitions for the Super Eagles.
Furthermore, the goalkeeper regularly finds himself on the receiving end of plaudits for his consistently impressive work between the sticks for Lille.
French newspaper L’Equipe recently voted Enyeama the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 for 2014.
This is “despite Lille’s stuttering start to the 2014-15 season that sees them languishing in place in 13th place in the 20-team standings.”
Enyeama was also ranked the best goalkeeper in France for last season, clawing away competition from the likes of Stephane Ruffier, Salvatore Sirigu and Steve Mandanda.
Enyeama vs. Mignolet
Compared to Liverpool’s current first-choice goalkeeper, Mignolet, Enyeama stands up as a wholly more functional option, as seen below with statistics courtesy of Squawka.
Despite Lille’s precarious Ligue 1 position, Enyeama has kept seven clean sheets this season, and conceded less goals than Mignolet, with his higher number of saves made serving as evidence of his contribution to the cause.
The 17 goals Lille have conceded with Enyeama in goal this season is six less than any other team in the bottom half of Ligue 1, with only Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint Etienne registering a lower concession rate this season.
Transfer Value
The only stumbling block in a Liverpool move for Enyeama is that the goalkeeper signed a new contract with Lille just over a year ago.
Nevertheless, the Guardian recently suggested Enyeama could be signed for as little as £4 million.
At 32 years old, with a long spell still to come in his prime, and with the exceptional skills that he has evidenced both internationally and on the domestic stage, Vincent Enyeama would be a great option to stabilise Liverpool’s leaky back line.
Should Liverpool sign Vincent Enyeama in January? Let us know in the comments below.
.
With the January transfer window now open, Jack Lusby suggests that Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama should be made a top priority for Liverpool.
Simon Mignolet is one player Liverpool need replacing in January, and the man do so is Lille goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.
The news that Mark Schwarzer, Chelsea’s third goalkeeper, was set to join Premier League relegation battler Leicester City this January dealt Liverpool a blow in their pursuit of another Blues goalkeeper.
The Telegraph’s John Percy, commenting on the deal, claimed “the possibility that Jose Mourinho will allow Petr Cech to leave on loan or be sold during the January window has become less likely.”
Elsewhere, Fiorentina shot-stopper Neto, Genoa’s Mattia Perin, Malaga’s Guillermo Ochoa and the more ridiculously speculated John Ruddy and Iker Casillas have all been linked with moves to Anfield.
It’s clear that Liverpool need a goalkeeper, with both Mignolet and Brad Jones falling far below par for a top-four challenging side.
While some of these would be wise choices by Rodgers this January, instead a move for Lille’s Enyeama could turn Liverpool’s season around.
Vincent Enyeama
The 32-year-old perennial Football Manager must-buy joined the Ligue 1 side in 2011, but it has taken a while for Enyeama to establish himself at Lille.
A 2012/13 loan at Maccabi Tel Aviv saw the Nigerian earn his stripes and a place in Rene Girard’s first team.
Enyeama is a confident, athletic shot-stopper with a great command of his penalty area, and has been an outstanding feature in the past two World Cup competitions for the Super Eagles.
Furthermore, the goalkeeper regularly finds himself on the receiving end of plaudits for his consistently impressive work between the sticks for Lille.
French newspaper L’Equipe recently voted Enyeama the best goalkeeper in Ligue 1 for 2014.
This is “despite Lille’s stuttering start to the 2014-15 season that sees them languishing in place in 13th place in the 20-team standings.”
Enyeama was also ranked the best goalkeeper in France for last season, clawing away competition from the likes of Stephane Ruffier, Salvatore Sirigu and Steve Mandanda.
Enyeama vs. Mignolet
Compared to Liverpool’s current first-choice goalkeeper, Mignolet, Enyeama stands up as a wholly more functional option, as seen below with statistics courtesy of Squawka.
Despite Lille’s precarious Ligue 1 position, Enyeama has kept seven clean sheets this season, and conceded less goals than Mignolet, with his higher number of saves made serving as evidence of his contribution to the cause.
The 17 goals Lille have conceded with Enyeama in goal this season is six less than any other team in the bottom half of Ligue 1, with only Paris Saint-Germain and AS Saint Etienne registering a lower concession rate this season.
Transfer Value
The only stumbling block in a Liverpool move for Enyeama is that the goalkeeper signed a new contract with Lille just over a year ago.
Nevertheless, the Guardian recently suggested Enyeama could be signed for as little as £4 million.
At 32 years old, with a long spell still to come in his prime, and with the exceptional skills that he has evidenced both internationally and on the domestic stage, Vincent Enyeama would be a great option to stabilise Liverpool’s leaky back line.
Should Liverpool sign Vincent Enyeama in January? Let us know in the comments below.
.
As we transition into a new year it is normal to find yourself in reflective mode. There is a lot to say about the last 12 months from a red perspective, writes Jeff Goulding.
We have journeyed through the full map of emotions; excitement, anticipation and expectancy followed by soul crushing despair and disappointment. That was just the first five months, but at least there was some joy to compensate for the pain. Sadly the next seven have offered little to balance the negative.
Despite all of this, the clubs owners found themselves in philosophical mode as the year drew to a close. They pointed to the loss of one of the best strikers in the world and his sidekick, coupled with a prolonged bedding in period for the new signings as mitigation for our woes. All was not lost though as there were, as they saw it, comforting signs that all would be well. The demolition of Swansea seemed to have heralded yet another turning of the corner.
The reality is that, while we do seem to have rediscovered our attacking verve, we still haven’t stopped the rear-guard behaving like a punch drunk Lee Evans facing the Klitschko brothers. Two mad minutes against Leicester saw us surrender a comfortable lead to the bottom club. More depressing was the fact that Leicester could easily have scored more and taken all three points.
The frustration on the Kop throughout this season has been palpable. It’s entirely understandable. The wait for a first league title in a quarter of a century is made more unbearable by how agonisingly close we came last season. To their eternal credit the hardcore, toward the back of the famous old stand, have continued to support and believe. Alas their voices have been but whispers compared the uneasy silence that grips the ground at league games these days.
By way of contrast, the travelling Kop are a beacon of hope, and have chanted the managers name defiantly all season. I see these supporters as the vanguard, the true barometer. Amongst them there is still hope as we move into 2015. However, in the wider fan-base you sense despair and rage. There are those who go beyond merely questioning the manager’s decisions, and would actually like to see yet another changing of the guard.
There is much wrong with the modern game. A lot of it, actually most of it, is brought upon us by the games authorities. However, if we are honest with ourselves, some of it is of our own making. In large numbers football supporters have succumbed to a seductive lie, and this has created a cycle that threatens to destroy the game. It’s time we stood up to it and refused to be taken in.
I am talking about the doctrine of instant success, and the epidemic of impatience it has bred. Yes the media, in particular Sky have cooked this up, but we don’t have to eat it. Brendan Rodgers was manager of the year last season, voted ‘man of the year’ by the club at the annual honours bash. He led Liverpool to an unlikely title tilt, playing some of the best football I have witness in 40 years of watching the team.
When he took the reigns the club was a shadow of its former glorious self. Kenny had managed to stabilise things, but in the league we were light years from where we expected to be. He was a young unproven manager taking over a global institution, and following a club icon and living legend. Far from shrinking from the task, he took us agonisingly close to the promised land in a very short time. He didn’t blow it, as some have said. The fact is we should never have been there in the first place. The fact we almost won the title is down to him, and he was rightly praised for it in May.
This is why I find the stick he is taking this season astonishing. Now I admit, I am a born optimist. When it comes to Liverpool F.C. I often find it hard to be overly critical. But when it comes to my Red faith I am not blind. I concede there are times when a manager and a club just don’t fit. This was the case with Roy Hodgson. It most definitely isn’t with Brendan Rodgers. Then there are times when a manager runs out of ideas and energy. He loses the dressing room and the mistakes and bad decisions start to outnumber the strokes of genius. In such times a parting of the ways (hopefully mutual) can be the right thing to do for both parties. I believe this may have been the case with Houllier. We are no where near this with Brendan in my opinion.
I believe Rodgers has made mistakes. I can see that some of the tactical decisions, formations and signings are questionable. It is an undeniable fact that we have suffered our worst start in fifty years. Although it is interesting to note that in that 64/65 season we were managed by some guy named Shankly. Thankfully there were no twitter or post match ‘phone in’ shows back then.
Fast forward to the career of the most successful English manager of all time, Bob Paisley. In 1981, despite winning the European Cup, Liverpool finished a disappointing 5th in the league. If something like that happened now fans would be clambering onto to message boards to tell us “he’s had his day” or the old standby “he’s took us as far as he can”. Thankfully such short-sightedness was in short supply back then. Liverpool won the League Title and the League Cup the following year.
The fact that Alex Ferguson was once on the brink, before ultimately going on to dominate the premier league, should tell you that even in the modern game patience is a virtue. Actually, it isn’t just virtuous, it’s a recipe for unparalleled success.
Brendan Rodgers may not become a club icon, but in my opinion he deserves the same chance to prove that he can be. Modern football wisdom tells us there’s no time to build, no time for mistakes and setbacks, and no time to learn. Success has to come instantly or its on to the next poor sap. If we buy into this, then we become just like every other club, and every other fan-base. Is that what we want?
As Liverpool supporters we have always celebrated our contrariness. We are defiantly different and revel in marching to our own drum. ‘We climbed the hill our own way’ as that fantastic banner on the Kop declares. We don’t have to subscribe to someone else’s mantra. We are Liverpool. The manager deserves our support and our patience. He is part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of supporters, players and manager. This was once an unbreakable bond, and an unstoppable force. It can and should be revived.
Against Burnley and Swansea the Reds took a massive two steps forward. Leicester represented a step back. It was not fatal in my opinion. Managers, like players suffer dips in form, self doubt and poor decision making. The very best come through these spells stronger, wiser and better for the experience. It’s a school of hard knocks, and in my view Rodgers has what it takes to graduate. Will we give him time? I hope we do.
Happy New Year
.
As we transition into a new year it is normal to find yourself in reflective mode. There is a lot to say about the last 12 months from a red perspective, writes Jeff Goulding.
We have journeyed through the full map of emotions; excitement, anticipation and expectancy followed by soul crushing despair and disappointment. That was just the first five months, but at least there was some joy to compensate for the pain. Sadly the next seven have offered little to balance the negative.
Despite all of this, the clubs owners found themselves in philosophical mode as the year drew to a close. They pointed to the loss of one of the best strikers in the world and his sidekick, coupled with a prolonged bedding in period for the new signings as mitigation for our woes. All was not lost though as there were, as they saw it, comforting signs that all would be well. The demolition of Swansea seemed to have heralded yet another turning of the corner.
The reality is that, while we do seem to have rediscovered our attacking verve, we still haven’t stopped the rear-guard behaving like a punch drunk Lee Evans facing the Klitschko brothers. Two mad minutes against Leicester saw us surrender a comfortable lead to the bottom club. More depressing was the fact that Leicester could easily have scored more and taken all three points.
The frustration on the Kop throughout this season has been palpable. It’s entirely understandable. The wait for a first league title in a quarter of a century is made more unbearable by how agonisingly close we came last season. To their eternal credit the hardcore, toward the back of the famous old stand, have continued to support and believe. Alas their voices have been but whispers compared the uneasy silence that grips the ground at league games these days.
By way of contrast, the travelling Kop are a beacon of hope, and have chanted the managers name defiantly all season. I see these supporters as the vanguard, the true barometer. Amongst them there is still hope as we move into 2015. However, in the wider fan-base you sense despair and rage. There are those who go beyond merely questioning the manager’s decisions, and would actually like to see yet another changing of the guard.
There is much wrong with the modern game. A lot of it, actually most of it, is brought upon us by the games authorities. However, if we are honest with ourselves, some of it is of our own making. In large numbers football supporters have succumbed to a seductive lie, and this has created a cycle that threatens to destroy the game. It’s time we stood up to it and refused to be taken in.
I am talking about the doctrine of instant success, and the epidemic of impatience it has bred. Yes the media, in particular Sky have cooked this up, but we don’t have to eat it. Brendan Rodgers was manager of the year last season, voted ‘man of the year’ by the club at the annual honours bash. He led Liverpool to an unlikely title tilt, playing some of the best football I have witness in 40 years of watching the team.
When he took the reigns the club was a shadow of its former glorious self. Kenny had managed to stabilise things, but in the league we were light years from where we expected to be. He was a young unproven manager taking over a global institution, and following a club icon and living legend. Far from shrinking from the task, he took us agonisingly close to the promised land in a very short time. He didn’t blow it, as some have said. The fact is we should never have been there in the first place. The fact we almost won the title is down to him, and he was rightly praised for it in May.
This is why I find the stick he is taking this season astonishing. Now I admit, I am a born optimist. When it comes to Liverpool F.C. I often find it hard to be overly critical. But when it comes to my Red faith I am not blind. I concede there are times when a manager and a club just don’t fit. This was the case with Roy Hodgson. It most definitely isn’t with Brendan Rodgers. Then there are times when a manager runs out of ideas and energy. He loses the dressing room and the mistakes and bad decisions start to outnumber the strokes of genius. In such times a parting of the ways (hopefully mutual) can be the right thing to do for both parties. I believe this may have been the case with Houllier. We are no where near this with Brendan in my opinion.
I believe Rodgers has made mistakes. I can see that some of the tactical decisions, formations and signings are questionable. It is an undeniable fact that we have suffered our worst start in fifty years. Although it is interesting to note that in that 64/65 season we were managed by some guy named Shankly. Thankfully there were no twitter or post match ‘phone in’ shows back then.
Fast forward to the career of the most successful English manager of all time, Bob Paisley. In 1981, despite winning the European Cup, Liverpool finished a disappointing 5th in the league. If something like that happened now fans would be clambering onto to message boards to tell us “he’s had his day” or the old standby “he’s took us as far as he can”. Thankfully such short-sightedness was in short supply back then. Liverpool won the League Title and the League Cup the following year.
The fact that Alex Ferguson was once on the brink, before ultimately going on to dominate the premier league, should tell you that even in the modern game patience is a virtue. Actually, it isn’t just virtuous, it’s a recipe for unparalleled success.
Brendan Rodgers may not become a club icon, but in my opinion he deserves the same chance to prove that he can be. Modern football wisdom tells us there’s no time to build, no time for mistakes and setbacks, and no time to learn. Success has to come instantly or its on to the next poor sap. If we buy into this, then we become just like every other club, and every other fan-base. Is that what we want?
As Liverpool supporters we have always celebrated our contrariness. We are defiantly different and revel in marching to our own drum. ‘We climbed the hill our own way’ as that fantastic banner on the Kop declares. We don’t have to subscribe to someone else’s mantra. We are Liverpool. The manager deserves our support and our patience. He is part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of supporters, players and manager. This was once an unbreakable bond, and an unstoppable force. It can and should be revived.
Against Burnley and Swansea the Reds took a massive two steps forward. Leicester represented a step back. It was not fatal in my opinion. Managers, like players suffer dips in form, self doubt and poor decision making. The very best come through these spells stronger, wiser and better for the experience. It’s a school of hard knocks, and in my view Rodgers has what it takes to graduate. Will we give him time? I hope we do.
Happy New Year
.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may only have a limited number of matches remaining for his boyhood club but that will not affect manager Brendan Rodgers' team selections.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who will leave in the summer when his contract expires, is likely to be on the bench for Monday's FA Cup third round tie against AFC Wimbledon.
But while Gerrard will want to make the most of the time he has left it will not sway Rodgers, who has used Gerrard judiciously this season in an attempt to get the best out of him.
"I will always pick what I think is the best team for the games," he said.
"Every player is the same, wanting to play every game, but it hasn't changed.
"He understands where it's at and because the number of games we have been playing there might be times he has to come out of the team."
Following the loss of Jamie Carragher to retirement 18 months ago Gerrard's exit will rob Liverpool of their home-grown heartbeat.
However, Rodgers is hopeful many of the club's youngsters at the academy will be inspired by what the first-team captain has achieved and view his departure as an opportunity.
"There are not many managers who get to manage that situation," added Rodgers.
"Jamie was an incredible player here, Stevie at the end of the season will move on and for us it is about finding the next one.
"It is a difficult task. You have one of the leading players in world football over the last 15 years but it happens to all the great players.
"There is a lot of great work going on in our academies with the focus on players on our own doorstep.
"Now it is easy to look outside and abroad but for us it is very much trying to find the talents in and around Liverpool and Merseyside – of which we believe there are many.
"There is only one Steven Gerrard but we have to look for the next talents to come through.
"This is a club which is renowned for having world-class players and there is no greater club at which to be an icon.
"It gives an opportunity for the younger players to keep pushing on.
"If you can perform consistently at a top level here than there is no greater place to be held in that esteem from supporters."
PA
.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may only have a limited number of matches remaining for his boyhood club but that will not affect manager Brendan Rodgers' team selections.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who will leave in the summer when his contract expires, is likely to be on the bench for Monday's FA Cup third round tie against AFC Wimbledon.
But while Gerrard will want to make the most of the time he has left it will not sway Rodgers, who has used Gerrard judiciously this season in an attempt to get the best out of him.
"I will always pick what I think is the best team for the games," he said.
"Every player is the same, wanting to play every game, but it hasn't changed.
"He understands where it's at and because the number of games we have been playing there might be times he has to come out of the team."
Following the loss of Jamie Carragher to retirement 18 months ago Gerrard's exit will rob Liverpool of their home-grown heartbeat.
However, Rodgers is hopeful many of the club's youngsters at the academy will be inspired by what the first-team captain has achieved and view his departure as an opportunity.
"There are not many managers who get to manage that situation," added Rodgers.
"Jamie was an incredible player here, Stevie at the end of the season will move on and for us it is about finding the next one.
"It is a difficult task. You have one of the leading players in world football over the last 15 years but it happens to all the great players.
"There is a lot of great work going on in our academies with the focus on players on our own doorstep.
"Now it is easy to look outside and abroad but for us it is very much trying to find the talents in and around Liverpool and Merseyside – of which we believe there are many.
"There is only one Steven Gerrard but we have to look for the next talents to come through.
"This is a club which is renowned for having world-class players and there is no greater club at which to be an icon.
"It gives an opportunity for the younger players to keep pushing on.
"If you can perform consistently at a top level here than there is no greater place to be held in that esteem from supporters."
PA
.
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With reports linking Liverpool with a January move for Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri, Jack Lusby believes the forward can inspire a 2015 comeback.
Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri is the latest player to be linked with a move to Liverpool this January, and the 23-year-old could be the signing to inspire a Liverpool comeback in 2015.
After a rocky first half of 2015 was punctuated by the announcement that Liverpool’s most renowned player, Steven Gerrard, was to leave the club at the end of the season, manager Brendan Rodgers seemed to suggest owners FSG must sanction some big-name transfers.
Rodgers declared: “A large part of our squad is young players but there’s no doubt that if you want to take steps forward, you need to sign ready-made players.”
“The model at the football club is clear in that the owners want to bring in young players in order to develop and create them into world class players…If you’re going to keep progressing, you also need those ready-made players.”
Shaqiri fits that criteria, and has been linked with a Merseyside move in January.
A move from Munich to Liverpool this January would suit Shaqiri, and could propel the Reds to a successful 2015.
Xherdan Shaqiri
A short, stocky attacking midfielder, Shaqiri is an interesting prospect and one that would improve Liverpool’s squad significantly.
Able to play across all three attacking midfield positions, as a wide player, an inside forward or as an attacking No. 10, Shaqiri is supremely versatile.
In nine Bundesliga games this season, Shaqiri has scored one goal and made two assists, at a rate of a hand in one goal every 113 minutes.
Liverpool’s most prolific player in this sense is Adam Lallana, who registers a goal or assist every 163 minutes per Premier League game.
Shaqiri’s main attribute is his confident, unpredictable dribbling style, and the midfielder prefers to take on his man, typically with great success; this is aided by an outstanding strength boosted by his physicality.
However, Shaqiri is a well-rounded player, who can score a wide range of goals from poached finishes, to great long shots and accurate dead balls, as evidenced by his hat-trick in Switzerland’s 3-0 victory over Honduras at the World Cup.
Furthermore, despite Shaqiri’s relative youth at 23 years old, the forward boasts vast experience both for club and country.
Vital Experience
With former club FC Basel, Shaqiri helped his side to victory in three successive Swiss Super League titles; with Bayern, Shaqiri has won two successive Bundesliga titles and the 2012/13 Champions League.
As Switzerland’s ‘Alpine Messi’, Shaqiri serves as his country’s inspiration, and has made 38 appearances for the Swiss senior side, scoring 12 goals.
Shaqiri was named the Swiss FA’s Credit Suisse Player of the Year for both 2012 and 2013, underlining his importance to the side.
This experience, of different styles and systems, and an excellent level of coaching from the likes of Pep Guardiola and Ottmar Hitzfeld, would see Shaqiri blend into Rodgers’ Liverpool side swiftly and adeptly.
In an overview of his managerial career, Hitzfeld claimed “I realised that although I had my own philosophy, I didn’t have the necessary players. I changed my own philosophy…You need to be flexible.”
With Switzerland this was focussed on a high intensity, pressure-based system highlighting the work rate of midfielders Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler and relying on the flair of Shaqiri.
Guardiola’s style at Munich was analysed in 2013/14 by the Independent’s Jack Pitt-Brooke: “The whole team plays further up the pitch, pressing hard from the front to win the ball back as quickly as possible, with a brisker tempo in possession as well.”
These are both reminiscent in style to Rodgers’ Liverpool, suggesting Shaqiri could flourish.
Shaqiri would do so with a motive.
A Point to Prove
The main reason behind Shaqiri’s desire to leave Bayern this January is presumably a lack of game time with the Bundesliga club.
This summer tweet came after Bayern director of sport discussed Shaqiri’s talents, claiming “Shaqiri is able to play in various positions and he is an important player for the future of this club.”
Shaqiri’s position in the side hasn’t improved this season, with Shaqiri making just three of his league appearances as a starter.
Marginalised at Bayern and looking for a move, Shaqiri has a point to prove at his next club.
This could play into Rodgers’ hands at Liverpool, who has displayed a restorative touch during his time as manager of the club.
On signing Daniel Sturridge in 2013, Rodgers outlined that “if he wants to stay at the top level, this is probably his last chance,” after spurning chances at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Philippe Coutinho is another player who was in a similar position when he too signed in 2013, with his career stagnating at Inter Milan, having made just 10 appearances for the club in the first half of 2012/13 before his transfer—like Shaqiri, only three of these came as a starter.
Both have thrived given the confidence that Rodgers’ faith has instilled in them, and they are now both key players at Liverpool.
While this summer’s signing of Mario Balotelli hasn’t quite displayed the same hallmarks, this still serves as evidence of Rodgers’ intention.
Overall, Liverpool is an excellent platform for talented young players to reaffirm their talents.
If Brendan Rodgers was to sign Xherdan Shaqiri this January, the manager could offer a similar career resurrection, and in return Liverpool would welcome a ready-made, top-class European talent.
Should Liverpool look to sign Xherdan Shaqiri in January? Let us know in the comments below.
.
With reports linking Liverpool with a January move for Bayern Munich’s Xherdan Shaqiri, Jack Lusby believes the forward can inspire a 2015 comeback.
Bayern Munich forward Xherdan Shaqiri is the latest player to be linked with a move to Liverpool this January, and the 23-year-old could be the signing to inspire a Liverpool comeback in 2015.
After a rocky first half of 2015 was punctuated by the announcement that Liverpool’s most renowned player, Steven Gerrard, was to leave the club at the end of the season, manager Brendan Rodgers seemed to suggest owners FSG must sanction some big-name transfers.
Rodgers declared: “A large part of our squad is young players but there’s no doubt that if you want to take steps forward, you need to sign ready-made players.”
“The model at the football club is clear in that the owners want to bring in young players in order to develop and create them into world class players…If you’re going to keep progressing, you also need those ready-made players.”
Shaqiri fits that criteria, and has been linked with a Merseyside move in January.
A move from Munich to Liverpool this January would suit Shaqiri, and could propel the Reds to a successful 2015.
Xherdan Shaqiri
A short, stocky attacking midfielder, Shaqiri is an interesting prospect and one that would improve Liverpool’s squad significantly.
Able to play across all three attacking midfield positions, as a wide player, an inside forward or as an attacking No. 10, Shaqiri is supremely versatile.
In nine Bundesliga games this season, Shaqiri has scored one goal and made two assists, at a rate of a hand in one goal every 113 minutes.
Liverpool’s most prolific player in this sense is Adam Lallana, who registers a goal or assist every 163 minutes per Premier League game.
Shaqiri’s main attribute is his confident, unpredictable dribbling style, and the midfielder prefers to take on his man, typically with great success; this is aided by an outstanding strength boosted by his physicality.
However, Shaqiri is a well-rounded player, who can score a wide range of goals from poached finishes, to great long shots and accurate dead balls, as evidenced by his hat-trick in Switzerland’s 3-0 victory over Honduras at the World Cup.
Furthermore, despite Shaqiri’s relative youth at 23 years old, the forward boasts vast experience both for club and country.
Vital Experience
With former club FC Basel, Shaqiri helped his side to victory in three successive Swiss Super League titles; with Bayern, Shaqiri has won two successive Bundesliga titles and the 2012/13 Champions League.
As Switzerland’s ‘Alpine Messi’, Shaqiri serves as his country’s inspiration, and has made 38 appearances for the Swiss senior side, scoring 12 goals.
Shaqiri was named the Swiss FA’s Credit Suisse Player of the Year for both 2012 and 2013, underlining his importance to the side.
This experience, of different styles and systems, and an excellent level of coaching from the likes of Pep Guardiola and Ottmar Hitzfeld, would see Shaqiri blend into Rodgers’ Liverpool side swiftly and adeptly.
In an overview of his managerial career, Hitzfeld claimed “I realised that although I had my own philosophy, I didn’t have the necessary players. I changed my own philosophy…You need to be flexible.”
With Switzerland this was focussed on a high intensity, pressure-based system highlighting the work rate of midfielders Valon Behrami and Gokhan Inler and relying on the flair of Shaqiri.
Guardiola’s style at Munich was analysed in 2013/14 by the Independent’s Jack Pitt-Brooke: “The whole team plays further up the pitch, pressing hard from the front to win the ball back as quickly as possible, with a brisker tempo in possession as well.”
These are both reminiscent in style to Rodgers’ Liverpool, suggesting Shaqiri could flourish.
Shaqiri would do so with a motive.
A Point to Prove
The main reason behind Shaqiri’s desire to leave Bayern this January is presumably a lack of game time with the Bundesliga club.
This summer tweet came after Bayern director of sport discussed Shaqiri’s talents, claiming “Shaqiri is able to play in various positions and he is an important player for the future of this club.”
Shaqiri’s position in the side hasn’t improved this season, with Shaqiri making just three of his league appearances as a starter.
Marginalised at Bayern and looking for a move, Shaqiri has a point to prove at his next club.
This could play into Rodgers’ hands at Liverpool, who has displayed a restorative touch during his time as manager of the club.
On signing Daniel Sturridge in 2013, Rodgers outlined that “if he wants to stay at the top level, this is probably his last chance,” after spurning chances at Manchester City and Chelsea.
Philippe Coutinho is another player who was in a similar position when he too signed in 2013, with his career stagnating at Inter Milan, having made just 10 appearances for the club in the first half of 2012/13 before his transfer—like Shaqiri, only three of these came as a starter.
Both have thrived given the confidence that Rodgers’ faith has instilled in them, and they are now both key players at Liverpool.
While this summer’s signing of Mario Balotelli hasn’t quite displayed the same hallmarks, this still serves as evidence of Rodgers’ intention.
Overall, Liverpool is an excellent platform for talented young players to reaffirm their talents.
If Brendan Rodgers was to sign Xherdan Shaqiri this January, the manager could offer a similar career resurrection, and in return Liverpool would welcome a ready-made, top-class European talent.
Should Liverpool look to sign Xherdan Shaqiri in January? Let us know in the comments below.
.
As we transition into a new year it is normal to find yourself in reflective mode. There is a lot to say about the last 12 months from a red perspective, writes Jeff Goulding.
We have journeyed through the full map of emotions; excitement, anticipation and expectancy followed by soul crushing despair and disappointment. That was just the first five months, but at least there was some joy to compensate for the pain. Sadly the next seven have offered little to balance the negative.
Despite all of this, the clubs owners found themselves in philosophical mode as the year drew to a close. They pointed to the loss of one of the best strikers in the world and his sidekick, coupled with a prolonged bedding in period for the new signings as mitigation for our woes. All was not lost though as there were, as they saw it, comforting signs that all would be well. The demolition of Swansea seemed to have heralded yet another turning of the corner.
The reality is that, while we do seem to have rediscovered our attacking verve, we still haven’t stopped the rear-guard behaving like a punch drunk Lee Evans facing the Klitschko brothers. Two mad minutes against Leicester saw us surrender a comfortable lead to the bottom club. More depressing was the fact that Leicester could easily have scored more and taken all three points.
The frustration on the Kop throughout this season has been palpable. It’s entirely understandable. The wait for a first league title in a quarter of a century is made more unbearable by how agonisingly close we came last season. To their eternal credit the hardcore, toward the back of the famous old stand, have continued to support and believe. Alas their voices have been but whispers compared the uneasy silence that grips the ground at league games these days.
By way of contrast, the travelling Kop are a beacon of hope, and have chanted the managers name defiantly all season. I see these supporters as the vanguard, the true barometer. Amongst them there is still hope as we move into 2015. However, in the wider fan-base you sense despair and rage. There are those who go beyond merely questioning the manager’s decisions, and would actually like to see yet another changing of the guard.
There is much wrong with the modern game. A lot of it, actually most of it, is brought upon us by the games authorities. However, if we are honest with ourselves, some of it is of our own making. In large numbers football supporters have succumbed to a seductive lie, and this has created a cycle that threatens to destroy the game. It’s time we stood up to it and refused to be taken in.
I am talking about the doctrine of instant success, and the epidemic of impatience it has bred. Yes the media, in particular Sky have cooked this up, but we don’t have to eat it. Brendan Rodgers was manager of the year last season, voted ‘man of the year’ by the club at the annual honours bash. He led Liverpool to an unlikely title tilt, playing some of the best football I have witness in 40 years of watching the team.
When he took the reigns the club was a shadow of its former glorious self. Kenny had managed to stabilise things, but in the league we were light years from where we expected to be. He was a young unproven manager taking over a global institution, and following a club icon and living legend. Far from shrinking from the task, he took us agonisingly close to the promised land in a very short time. He didn’t blow it, as some have said. The fact is we should never have been there in the first place. The fact we almost won the title is down to him, and he was rightly praised for it in May.
This is why I find the stick he is taking this season astonishing. Now I admit, I am a born optimist. When it comes to Liverpool F.C. I often find it hard to be overly critical. But when it comes to my Red faith I am not blind. I concede there are times when a manager and a club just don’t fit. This was the case with Roy Hodgson. It most definitely isn’t with Brendan Rodgers. Then there are times when a manager runs out of ideas and energy. He loses the dressing room and the mistakes and bad decisions start to outnumber the strokes of genius. In such times a parting of the ways (hopefully mutual) can be the right thing to do for both parties. I believe this may have been the case with Houllier. We are no where near this with Brendan in my opinion.
I believe Rodgers has made mistakes. I can see that some of the tactical decisions, formations and signings are questionable. It is an undeniable fact that we have suffered our worst start in fifty years. Although it is interesting to note that in that 64/65 season we were managed by some guy named Shankly. Thankfully there were no twitter or post match ‘phone in’ shows back then.
Fast forward to the career of the most successful English manager of all time, Bob Paisley. In 1981, despite winning the European Cup, Liverpool finished a disappointing 5th in the league. If something like that happened now fans would be clambering onto to message boards to tell us “he’s had his day” or the old standby “he’s took us as far as he can”. Thankfully such short-sightedness was in short supply back then. Liverpool won the League Title and the League Cup the following year.
The fact that Alex Ferguson was once on the brink, before ultimately going on to dominate the premier league, should tell you that even in the modern game patience is a virtue. Actually, it isn’t just virtuous, it’s a recipe for unparalleled success.
Brendan Rodgers may not become a club icon, but in my opinion he deserves the same chance to prove that he can be. Modern football wisdom tells us there’s no time to build, no time for mistakes and setbacks, and no time to learn. Success has to come instantly or its on to the next poor sap. If we buy into this, then we become just like every other club, and every other fan-base. Is that what we want?
As Liverpool supporters we have always celebrated our contrariness. We are defiantly different and revel in marching to our own drum. ‘We climbed the hill our own way’ as that fantastic banner on the Kop declares. We don’t have to subscribe to someone else’s mantra. We are Liverpool. The manager deserves our support and our patience. He is part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of supporters, players and manager. This was once an unbreakable bond, and an unstoppable force. It can and should be revived.
Against Burnley and Swansea the Reds took a massive two steps forward. Leicester represented a step back. It was not fatal in my opinion. Managers, like players suffer dips in form, self doubt and poor decision making. The very best come through these spells stronger, wiser and better for the experience. It’s a school of hard knocks, and in my view Rodgers has what it takes to graduate. Will we give him time? I hope we do.
Happy New Year
.
As we transition into a new year it is normal to find yourself in reflective mode. There is a lot to say about the last 12 months from a red perspective, writes Jeff Goulding.
We have journeyed through the full map of emotions; excitement, anticipation and expectancy followed by soul crushing despair and disappointment. That was just the first five months, but at least there was some joy to compensate for the pain. Sadly the next seven have offered little to balance the negative.
Despite all of this, the clubs owners found themselves in philosophical mode as the year drew to a close. They pointed to the loss of one of the best strikers in the world and his sidekick, coupled with a prolonged bedding in period for the new signings as mitigation for our woes. All was not lost though as there were, as they saw it, comforting signs that all would be well. The demolition of Swansea seemed to have heralded yet another turning of the corner.
The reality is that, while we do seem to have rediscovered our attacking verve, we still haven’t stopped the rear-guard behaving like a punch drunk Lee Evans facing the Klitschko brothers. Two mad minutes against Leicester saw us surrender a comfortable lead to the bottom club. More depressing was the fact that Leicester could easily have scored more and taken all three points.
The frustration on the Kop throughout this season has been palpable. It’s entirely understandable. The wait for a first league title in a quarter of a century is made more unbearable by how agonisingly close we came last season. To their eternal credit the hardcore, toward the back of the famous old stand, have continued to support and believe. Alas their voices have been but whispers compared the uneasy silence that grips the ground at league games these days.
By way of contrast, the travelling Kop are a beacon of hope, and have chanted the managers name defiantly all season. I see these supporters as the vanguard, the true barometer. Amongst them there is still hope as we move into 2015. However, in the wider fan-base you sense despair and rage. There are those who go beyond merely questioning the manager’s decisions, and would actually like to see yet another changing of the guard.
There is much wrong with the modern game. A lot of it, actually most of it, is brought upon us by the games authorities. However, if we are honest with ourselves, some of it is of our own making. In large numbers football supporters have succumbed to a seductive lie, and this has created a cycle that threatens to destroy the game. It’s time we stood up to it and refused to be taken in.
I am talking about the doctrine of instant success, and the epidemic of impatience it has bred. Yes the media, in particular Sky have cooked this up, but we don’t have to eat it. Brendan Rodgers was manager of the year last season, voted ‘man of the year’ by the club at the annual honours bash. He led Liverpool to an unlikely title tilt, playing some of the best football I have witness in 40 years of watching the team.
When he took the reigns the club was a shadow of its former glorious self. Kenny had managed to stabilise things, but in the league we were light years from where we expected to be. He was a young unproven manager taking over a global institution, and following a club icon and living legend. Far from shrinking from the task, he took us agonisingly close to the promised land in a very short time. He didn’t blow it, as some have said. The fact is we should never have been there in the first place. The fact we almost won the title is down to him, and he was rightly praised for it in May.
This is why I find the stick he is taking this season astonishing. Now I admit, I am a born optimist. When it comes to Liverpool F.C. I often find it hard to be overly critical. But when it comes to my Red faith I am not blind. I concede there are times when a manager and a club just don’t fit. This was the case with Roy Hodgson. It most definitely isn’t with Brendan Rodgers. Then there are times when a manager runs out of ideas and energy. He loses the dressing room and the mistakes and bad decisions start to outnumber the strokes of genius. In such times a parting of the ways (hopefully mutual) can be the right thing to do for both parties. I believe this may have been the case with Houllier. We are no where near this with Brendan in my opinion.
I believe Rodgers has made mistakes. I can see that some of the tactical decisions, formations and signings are questionable. It is an undeniable fact that we have suffered our worst start in fifty years. Although it is interesting to note that in that 64/65 season we were managed by some guy named Shankly. Thankfully there were no twitter or post match ‘phone in’ shows back then.
Fast forward to the career of the most successful English manager of all time, Bob Paisley. In 1981, despite winning the European Cup, Liverpool finished a disappointing 5th in the league. If something like that happened now fans would be clambering onto to message boards to tell us “he’s had his day” or the old standby “he’s took us as far as he can”. Thankfully such short-sightedness was in short supply back then. Liverpool won the League Title and the League Cup the following year.
The fact that Alex Ferguson was once on the brink, before ultimately going on to dominate the premier league, should tell you that even in the modern game patience is a virtue. Actually, it isn’t just virtuous, it’s a recipe for unparalleled success.
Brendan Rodgers may not become a club icon, but in my opinion he deserves the same chance to prove that he can be. Modern football wisdom tells us there’s no time to build, no time for mistakes and setbacks, and no time to learn. Success has to come instantly or its on to the next poor sap. If we buy into this, then we become just like every other club, and every other fan-base. Is that what we want?
As Liverpool supporters we have always celebrated our contrariness. We are defiantly different and revel in marching to our own drum. ‘We climbed the hill our own way’ as that fantastic banner on the Kop declares. We don’t have to subscribe to someone else’s mantra. We are Liverpool. The manager deserves our support and our patience. He is part of the ‘Holy Trinity’ of supporters, players and manager. This was once an unbreakable bond, and an unstoppable force. It can and should be revived.
Against Burnley and Swansea the Reds took a massive two steps forward. Leicester represented a step back. It was not fatal in my opinion. Managers, like players suffer dips in form, self doubt and poor decision making. The very best come through these spells stronger, wiser and better for the experience. It’s a school of hard knocks, and in my view Rodgers has what it takes to graduate. Will we give him time? I hope we do.
Happy New Year
.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may only have a limited number of matches remaining for his boyhood club but that will not affect manager Brendan Rodgers' team selections.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who will leave in the summer when his contract expires, is likely to be on the bench for Monday's FA Cup third round tie against AFC Wimbledon.
But while Gerrard will want to make the most of the time he has left it will not sway Rodgers, who has used Gerrard judiciously this season in an attempt to get the best out of him.
"I will always pick what I think is the best team for the games," he said.
"Every player is the same, wanting to play every game, but it hasn't changed.
"He understands where it's at and because the number of games we have been playing there might be times he has to come out of the team."
Following the loss of Jamie Carragher to retirement 18 months ago Gerrard's exit will rob Liverpool of their home-grown heartbeat.
However, Rodgers is hopeful many of the club's youngsters at the academy will be inspired by what the first-team captain has achieved and view his departure as an opportunity.
"There are not many managers who get to manage that situation," added Rodgers.
"Jamie was an incredible player here, Stevie at the end of the season will move on and for us it is about finding the next one.
"It is a difficult task. You have one of the leading players in world football over the last 15 years but it happens to all the great players.
"There is a lot of great work going on in our academies with the focus on players on our own doorstep.
"Now it is easy to look outside and abroad but for us it is very much trying to find the talents in and around Liverpool and Merseyside – of which we believe there are many.
"There is only one Steven Gerrard but we have to look for the next talents to come through.
"This is a club which is renowned for having world-class players and there is no greater club at which to be an icon.
"It gives an opportunity for the younger players to keep pushing on.
"If you can perform consistently at a top level here than there is no greater place to be held in that esteem from supporters."
PA
.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard may only have a limited number of matches remaining for his boyhood club but that will not affect manager Brendan Rodgers' team selections.
The 34-year-old midfielder, who will leave in the summer when his contract expires, is likely to be on the bench for Monday's FA Cup third round tie against AFC Wimbledon.
But while Gerrard will want to make the most of the time he has left it will not sway Rodgers, who has used Gerrard judiciously this season in an attempt to get the best out of him.
"I will always pick what I think is the best team for the games," he said.
"Every player is the same, wanting to play every game, but it hasn't changed.
"He understands where it's at and because the number of games we have been playing there might be times he has to come out of the team."
Following the loss of Jamie Carragher to retirement 18 months ago Gerrard's exit will rob Liverpool of their home-grown heartbeat.
However, Rodgers is hopeful many of the club's youngsters at the academy will be inspired by what the first-team captain has achieved and view his departure as an opportunity.
"There are not many managers who get to manage that situation," added Rodgers.
"Jamie was an incredible player here, Stevie at the end of the season will move on and for us it is about finding the next one.
"It is a difficult task. You have one of the leading players in world football over the last 15 years but it happens to all the great players.
"There is a lot of great work going on in our academies with the focus on players on our own doorstep.
"Now it is easy to look outside and abroad but for us it is very much trying to find the talents in and around Liverpool and Merseyside – of which we believe there are many.
"There is only one Steven Gerrard but we have to look for the next talents to come through.
"This is a club which is renowned for having world-class players and there is no greater club at which to be an icon.
"It gives an opportunity for the younger players to keep pushing on.
"If you can perform consistently at a top level here than there is no greater place to be held in that esteem from supporters."
PA
.
After weeks of speculation it finally looks like Liverpool WILL bring forward Divock Origi to Anfield in January.
There’s been numerous reports suggesting the Reds will pay in order to bring forward the Belgian’s arrival, with Origi having been loaned back to Lille after his £10 million arrival in the summer. Those reports were often then countered by press in England.
But now, finally, The Liverpool Echo report that Liverpool are prepared to pay the £3m need to bring the Belgian striker from Lille. They write:
“No deal is yet in place with Lille but the initial discussions have been encouraging and Anfield officials are confident they will reach a successful conclusion.
“Origi is desperate to begin his Liverpool career after enduring a torrid campaign in France.”
The 19-year-old is enduring a tough time at Lille, who themselves are having a poor season and are 13th in Ligue 1. He was booed after missing a penalty last month.
Origi’s arrival will likely mean the end for Fabio Borini this January.
.
After weeks of speculation it finally looks like Liverpool WILL bring forward Divock Origi to Anfield in January.
There’s been numerous reports suggesting the Reds will pay in order to bring forward the Belgian’s arrival, with Origi having been loaned back to Lille after his £10 million arrival in the summer. Those reports were often then countered by press in England.
But now, finally, The Liverpool Echo report that Liverpool are prepared to pay the £3m need to bring the Belgian striker from Lille. They write:
“No deal is yet in place with Lille but the initial discussions have been encouraging and Anfield officials are confident they will reach a successful conclusion.
“Origi is desperate to begin his Liverpool career after enduring a torrid campaign in France.”
The 19-year-old is enduring a tough time at Lille, who themselves are having a poor season and are 13th in Ligue 1. He was booed after missing a penalty last month.
Origi’s arrival will likely mean the end for Fabio Borini this January.
.
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