Steven Gerrard

[RichC]

Ah now that's different and I agree we probably need to move to thst but at the moment who?

Can maybe looks athletic enough to do the job ideally Mascherano would fancy a move back

[alonso14]

He's not a defensive midfielder, he's not being played as one and he never has been under Rodgers

Yes and playing Gerrard in the position a traditional defensive midfielder would be is one of the reasons why we are and have been defensively poor.

[RichC]

Where did he play last season & where did we finish ?

The reason we're not playing well is the side as a whole is playing below the level they can and we need.

A large number of players need to up their game

[vonk]

Gerrard shouldn't have to fight as many fires as he's doing. The first goal was a shambles where our two centre backs followed the ball and didn't win it, allowing 4 Chelsea players in on goal. That's not Gerrard's fault. It's also not Gerrards fault when Lovren seems completely incapable of basic defending like in the example I gave. I certainly don't think Gerrard is irreplaceable, but I tend to think we don't have a top class defensive mid who can do the job, he's the best of a not great bunch. As for Lovren playing the ball from the back, there are too many examples of him giving it straight back to the opposition to allow that approach.

[RichC]

Gerrard shouldn't have to fight as many fires as he's doing. The first goal was a shambles where our two centre backs followed the ball and didn't win it, allowing 4 Chelsea players in on goal. That's not Gerrard's fault. It's also not Gerrards fault when Lovren seems completely incapable of basic defending like in the example I gave. I certainly don't think Gerrard is irreplaceable, but I tend to think we don't have a top class defensive mid who can do the job, he's the best of a not great bunch. As for Lovren playing the ball from the back, there are too many examples of him giving it straight back to the opposition to allow that approach.

Yup certainly not irreplaceable in fact there isn't a player in the side at the moment in that bracket too many well below par.

Lovren and his partner at the back playing it out from deep is what nightmares are made of

[BobTheCharmer]

I love how people are obsessed with having a bona fida DM in the team. Its football manager we have to thank isn't it for that term. You can succeed without one if the players are good enough. We never used to need one. The likes of souness, McMahon, whelan, redknapp could all do a bit of both, attack and defend. I hate limited players who's sole reason to con a living is as a **** shield, can't shoot, can't pass, can mop up and knock to someone more talented. It has worked without doubt in some successful teams over recently years but that doesn't mean it is the only way to play. With two decent centre backs they shouldn't need protecting.

[alonso14]

Where did he play last season & where did we finish ?

The reason we're not playing well is the side as a whole is playing below the level they can and we need.

A large number of players need to up their game

We conceded 50 goals last season. That was largely forgotten because we scored so many but nonetheless its a fact that you can't ignore. Gerrard offers no protection to the defence whatsover so if you want him in the team he cant play there.

Why not have a midfield 3 out of Allen/ Henderson/ Can / lucas and then give Steven a free role to create goals from wherever he can get on the ball. That makes more sense than playing him in a position where he goes missing and makes the defence look like lemmings.

[Slinky Skills]

I'd play Gerrard at the tip of a diamond, he still has it in him to get goals and get into attacking positions - he hasn't lost it yet.

To me he still offers far more going forward than as a DM or holding mid. I actually think he could float around in that position and still prove deadly right up until his 40's.

I'd play something like Can as the holding DM, Sterling out left, Hendo in the middle, Lallana out right with Gerrard at the tip and then Sturridge up top on his own.

[Galb]

We conceded 50 goals last season. That was largely forgotten because we scored so many but nonetheless its a fact that you can't ignore. Gerrard offers no protection to the defence whatsover so if you want him in the team he cant play there.

He played well last season in patches but his contribution was defintely hyped up in the press and on here, probably because we all were attracted to the fairytale element to it. And defintiely the movement up front meant his long passing was more effecive than this year.

But defensively, he was problem in that position last season too - which some people did argue here at the time as well. It's just that the goals scores covered that up so it got less attention in the same way the fact we're not scoring goals is probaably giving it more attention this season.

There's also a problem with his short distribution being too slow and one-dimensional. Watch how often a defender gives it to him and he knocks it five yards straight back if there's any pressure at all. Which just slows us down and means the defender is probably under more pressure too. Compare that to Lucas who knows where players are and usually looks to turn into space or change the angle. It's the dfference between a player who's played DM for years and is used to finding space there and a player who has almost always played his best football with the ball in front of him only going one way - forward at speed. It's not that one is better. It's that one is better for that job.

As some people have suggested, he should be RM for me. And mainly as a last 30 minutes supersub. Makes the best use of his crossing and means he's still in the right area to make something out of nothing, which has always been what he's best at.

[souliv]

Gerrard in my opinion is finished as being in the starting 11. I would use him as an impact sub when we need a goal or to change things in attack.

[Shaggy]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/nov/10/liverpool-contract-talks-steven-gerrard?CMP=twt_gu

Liverpool to begin formal talks over Steven Gerrard contract

• Gerrard, 34, is out of contract at the end of season
• Brendan Rodgers has spoken with Gerrard’s agent

Liverpool are due to begin formal contract talks with Steven Gerrard’s representatives later this week as they seek to extend the captain’s Anfield career.

The 34-year-old is out of contract at the end of this season and free to sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club from January. There has been uncertainty over Gerrard’s future at his boyhood club, with the former England captain revealing last month that Liverpool had not made an approach over a new deal and manager Brendan Rodgers, having said in the summer an extension was “a formality”, later admitting the club would have to “see how he feels”.

Speaking after Liverpool’s recent defeat at Newcastle United, however, Rodgers revealed he had held talks with Gerrard’s agent Struan Marshall about a new contract for the long-serving captain.

Rodgers said: “As manager of this club you can’t afford to be sentimental but, both on an off the field, as a leader and as a captain, I want to ensure that Steven is very much part of this second curve we’re on in terms of group development.”

That informal contact between Rodgers and Marshall will be followed by dialogue between Liverpool officials and Gerrard’s agent in the coming days, with a one-year contract likely to be offered.

[Shaggy]

Can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not sure we should be offering him one. Or at least if we do, you'd hope it's on vastly reduced terms. He no longer contributes at a £150k a week+ sort of level so his cloth should be cut accordingly if he's to be offered a new one. Have we got the bollocks to do that with a club legend?!

[danperkins]

If he is the club legend we all think he is, surely he should be more than willing to accept lesser money. The guy is absolutely loaded, money shouldn't be an issue for him at this stage.

Whether or not he can accept a lesser role as regards playing time is a different story entirely... i'm not so sure the ego is ready for that yet. Tough spot

[Kenneth]

I want to ensure that Steven is very much part of this second curve we’re on in terms of group development.

He does like his corporate bull**** doesn't it? Some people take it as signs of a charlatan, assuming that it's in lieu of ability, but there are lots of successful people who also come out with corporate bull**** and they haven't all blagged it.

[Kenneth]

Can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not sure we should be offering him one. Or at least if we do, you'd hope it's on vastly reduced terms. He no longer contributes at a £150k a week+ sort of level so his cloth should be cut accordingly if he's to be offered a new one. Have we got the bollocks to do that with a club legend?!

I'd give him the money, there are wider reasons to keep him around, but it would have to be with the mutual understanding that he needs to allow the rest of the squad get used to playing without him. He'd be a hell of a sub and still be the right starter for some games, but he needs to start being used much less.