Only one word to describe Gerrard, says Rodgers

As Liverpool and the club’s fans across the globe prepare themselves for the inevitable exit of legendary club captain, Steven Gerrard, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers was fielded the sorts of questions you might expect ahead of Gerrard’s last match at Anfield.

Speaking to the assembled journalists at his Crystal Palace pre-match presser, Rodgers was posed the question of which one word he would use to described Gerrard. He said: “I’ve asked a number of people and I’ve asked a lot of my staff if they could describe Steven in one word, what would it be.

“[I heard] all the words you will have heard before – words that come to mind in terms of being genuine, quality and world class. All the adjectives you would describe him with.

“But for me, the word I would describe him with is ‘Liverpool’. Not just Liverpool as a football club or Liverpool and the supporters, but Liverpool the city.

“This is a guy who is very much about looking after his people. He loves his city. He’s had a number of opportunities to move from here to prestigious clubs, but Liverpool is his home. This is his place, these are the people he loves. He grew up around the corner and went on to play for the club he supported.

“What he has given to this city, politicians haven’t given to this city. Local hospitals, the charities, all the work he does, it’s unheralded.

“So when describing Steven [in one word], I would say ‘Liverpool’.

“He is a wonderful symbol for the people here and an incredible, incredible icon of the club.”

While there’s no doubting that Gerrard truly is an icon for Liverpool, that will no doubt be furthest from most fan’s minds tomorrow evening when the realisation that this may be the last time many will see Gerrard in a Liverpool shirt in person. Make no mistake, there will be many tears shed.

There will also be thousands of fans at Anfield tomorrow, and millions more across the club’s vast fan-base using their own words to describe a player who has, for many, become the embodiment of the club and the last example of a truly one club man.

What one word would you use to describe Gerrard? Let us know in the comments.