Steven Gerrard

[Kinell]

Quite a poor game by Gerrard, lacking that real impetuous to get the ball wide or forward.

He got the run around for most the match, a stark realisation that he's officially getting on a bit now

[cream]

Needs to be playing with Coutinho and another dynamic, all round, all action destroyer type.

[Patricks_Berger]

I think he's part of the problem in midfield now. Can he play wing-back or full-back?

[wiw]

I think he's part of the problem in midfield now. Can he play wing-back or full-back?

No.

We need him closer to the goal not further away. If he doesn't have the legs for the middle then I don't see how he can play as full back.

[Sarb]

Needs to be allowed to attack. It's what he is good at

[badpiggy]

Needs to be allowed to attack. It's what he is good at

Whatever Gerrard has left in his legs - and it's clearly diminishing - needs to be used further forward. He isn't, never was an never will be a great CM. Even stick him out on the right.

[Sarb]

Even get Henderson and Lucas to sit and let him play further forward

[Mike]

I'm probably going to get ripped for this but I'm putting it out there - our best XI does not feature Gerrard.

He has not got the legs any more, how often do you see him legging it back to defend? He doesn't. He will lose the ball and casually jog back; it does my nut in. He no longer runs a midfield. Cazorla would not have scored the other day had Gerrard ran back with him and stuck with his man - something which Lucas does and doesn't get enough credit for, imo.

If we are playing a ball retention-based style of football, I'd have a midfield of Lucas (who I would look at replacing for someone who can throw their weight about more), Allen just ahead if not alongside, and then Henderson.

That to me, is our best midfield at the moment. Granted Allen has been out injured etc but games would sharpen him up, and we need to bite the bullet and do that. Some people even suggested moving Gerrard out to the right, why? Why accomodate the team to him when we have players who are more than capable in those positions already?

I am in no way saying Stevie is finished and can't do a job, but we have better alternatives and sadly we all knew with age he would start dropping his level; I think now is the time we look at replacing him in the XI.

[Yozza]

Here you go mate...

[danperkins]

He's been very poor this season.. he doesn't seem to be able to handle that deep role. There is a lot of defensive responsibility in that role & the combinations of Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson is not good enough no matter what way to try to rejig it.

Gerrard has one of the best strikes of a football in the game, he can pick a pass & has great guile and intelligence. To me, it makes sense to have him closer to goal. Less donkey work,less defensive responsibility & more focus on his shooting,creativity & him linking the play.

The problem is we still don't have the right personnel to make the system that Rodgers wants to use work.

P.S. Gerrard started badly last season and ended up having a brilliant season... hopefully he can turn it around again.

[Sarb]

He's been very poor this season.. he doesn't seem to be able to handle that deep role. There is a lot of defensive responsibility in that role & the combinations of Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson is not good enough no matter what way to try to rejig it.

Gerrard has one of the best strikes of a football in the game, he can pick a pass & has great guile and intelligence. To me, it makes sense to have him closer to goal. Less donkey work,less defensive responsibility & more focus on his shooting,creativity & him linking the play.

The problem is we still don't have the right personnel to make the system that Rodgers wants to use work.

P.S. Gerrard started badly last season and ended up having a brilliant season... hopefully he can turn it around again.

I know when we went 2-0 down he made a few runs forward, linked up a couple times with Coutinho too. He's wasted in the holding role. Whilst we don't have the personnel I don't see why Henderson can't sit with Lucas and Gerrard allowed to go forward.

I don't think he's past it. I think he can still make the runs and has the fitness. It's just that he's being told not to

[Bender]

He's been very poor this season.. he doesn't seem to be able to handle that deep role. There is a lot of defensive responsibility in that role & the combinations of Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson is not good enough no matter what way to try to rejig it.

Gerrard has one of the best strikes of a football in the game, he can pick a pass & has great guile and intelligence. To me, it makes sense to have him closer to goal. Less donkey work,less defensive responsibility & more focus on his shooting,creativity & him linking the play.

The problem is we still don't have the right personnel to make the system that Rodgers wants to use work.

P.S. Gerrard started badly last season and ended up having a brilliant season... hopefully he can turn it around again.

Does Rodgers have the Steel Balls to drop him,because any chance Rodgers get's he sings his praises,there comes a time for every sports star to be dropped/asked to play a lesser/different role for the benefit of the team.

[Sarb]

Does Rodgers have the Steel Balls to drop him,because any chance Rodgers get's he sings his praises,there comes a time for every sports star to be dropped/asked to play a lesser/different role for the benefit of the team.

I think he's already making Gerrard play a different role for the benefit of the team. I suspect Gerrard knows that his best position is breaking forward rather than holding

Gerrard would always be the first name on the teamsheet for me. His current form doens't change that

[Mike]

He's been very poor this season.. he doesn't seem to be able to handle that deep role. There is a lot of defensive responsibility in that role & the combinations of Lucas/Gerrard/Henderson is not good enough no matter what way to try to rejig it.

Gerrard has one of the best strikes of a football in the game, he can pick a pass & has great guile and intelligence. To me, it makes sense to have him closer to goal. Less donkey work,less defensive responsibility & more focus on his shooting,creativity & him linking the play.

The problem is we still don't have the right personnel to make the system that Rodgers wants to use work.

P.S. Gerrard started badly last season and ended up having a brilliant season... hopefully he can turn it around again.

Do you think he has the legs to play further forward in midfield, pressing high up like Henderson does for 90 mins? Can't have him too far forward as obviously Countinho is more effective.

He's being picked to play a deeper role because he quite simply doesn't have the legs any more to play further forward. Rodgers doesn't really want him in a deeper role as he thinks it's not his natural position and he is not as effective; maybe that explains why he makes bursts forward every so often. Thing is with that, if you're going to make a run forward, you've got to be prepared to get back and cover yourself and Stevie simply isn't doing that well enough.

[~LFCHistory~]

I think possibly our biggest problem is that both Gerrard and Lucas are guaranteed starters regardless of form especially Stevie. Lucas can't be dropped because there's no one that realistically play the DM role and SG cannot be dropped because for the same reason plus because of who he is and the potential problems that could arise if BR did it.
But you have to wonder when BR will draw a line in the sand and say enough's enough, Stevie is 33 and he is only going to continue to decline so sooner or later the decision will have to be made.