Steven Gerrard missed a considerable portion of last season after struggling with a long term groin injury. Over the early summer he had a groin operation to rectify the problem, but unfortunately he has now suffered complications and could be out for the first few months of the season.
A few years back this would have signalled alarm bells for Liverpool. The Liverpool side in previous years was defined by many as a two man team, heavily reliant upon Gerrard or Fernando Torres. Gerrard was absolutely vital to the Liverpool side, and his absence would have had many a Liverpool fan worried, but has all that changed?
Gerrard missed considerable portions of last season-only featuring 21 times-and during his absence Liverpool played outstandingly well. This could just be due to the revolution under Kenny Dalglish and Steve Clarke that took place, rather then Gerrard’s absence. However, the side did play better as a team when he wasn’t playing, with players like Lucas Leiva, Raul Meireles, Maxi Rodriguez and Jay Spearing really stepping up to the plate and performing to their potential in Gerrard’s absence.
With Stevie in the side, it seems as if the players around him try too hard, and rather than focus on their own games, focus too much on the captain’s. Gerrard is also at times guilty-probably because he has had to do it so many times in the past-of trying to do everything himself, demanding the ball, and trying to go at it alone, which obviously would have a negative effect on his team-mates and their own confidence.
With more new recruits coming in over the summer, Liverpool are certainly not lacking in the centre of the park for replacements, and they will be queuing up to fit into Liverpool’s starting 11 in Gerrard’s absence. Meireles did the job exceptionally well last year, and we saw the best of the dynamic midfielder in a free roaming role. Charlie Adam, could also slot right in there, with his deft passing and creativity. Gerrard’s absence gives others the chance to impress, and this competition for places at the start of the season can only be a good thing for the side, as each could push each other onto greater things. If Liverpool do start the season well, it then brings up the question of where Gerrard fits when he returns to fitness?
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm…
well if you had watch pre-season matchs you’d know are two new midfields henderson and adams have been nothing short of shocking.im not a lucas fan but i carnt wait for him and suarez to return. the reason we play better as a team without stevie is because the other players leave it up to stevie. we should have used coady and shelvey instead of wasting 20 odd mil on 2 average players in adams and henderson. wot i dont understand is we have a player like meireles who is a great footballer but looks like he will be pushed out the door . it looks to me like we are building a new wimbledon team not a class side like the liverpools of old
Lee,
“instead of wasting 20 odd mil on 2 average players in adams and henderson.”
Henderson is going to become a very good to probably great player for Liverpool in the years to come. The 20 million is not a waste.
on what evidence have you drawn this conclusion from carnt be the under 21 england performances or the 2 shocking games for us. what im most mystified by is in the years to come we have coady and shelvey so this is why i think he is a waste of money . we need world class midfielders now not in a few years. we havent had world class midfielders since mascherano and alonso
It proves that no one player is bigger than a team; but, I hope he mends soon and comes back to play again. His presence might be the added impetus that would drive the team forward to winning again.
Gerrard does not need to get worried now because there are enough midfielders to cope. When Gerrard returns he should have another role, that is, motivating his teammates on and off the field. May be Dalglish is nurturing another Gary Macallister.
I’ll never understand how people can state for certain that any new English player will be a ‘very good’, let alone ‘great’, player for Liverpool. It really isn’t an argument at all. It’s basing so much on chance and circumstance that it’s very difficult to take it seriously.
From what we’ve seen so far in terms of comments on forums, a majority of LFC supporters have suggested that the list of under-performing players in pre-season contains the names Carroll, Downing, Henderson and Adam. Granted, there are far more that have been poor – (and I personally think Downing has been OK) – but how anyone can suggest with a reasoned argument, stating actual fact, that any of these players will be ‘great’ for Liverpool kind of belittle the debate somewhat.
I’m not saying it won’t happen, I’m just saying it’s far from certain. In fact, Suarez has been the only signing of recent years where I personally have been 100% certain that his attitude matched his talent before we got him.
And he’s also the only other player that we can realistically say for sure will be on the roster next season who possesses imagination and moments of genius.
well said.
you are not playing the stupid english loyalty stuff.
when stevie wanted to go to chelsea how did rafa convince him to stay????? in same way, kk has no excuse on this aquaman isssue.
i carnt believe anyone thinks any midfield at the club comes anywhere near replacing gerrard ,i go as far as if you put all there talents together they’d fall short , i’m not including aquillani or meireles as it looks like the club is pushing 2 of the only players with a footballing brain out of the door. once again we will be relying on 1 player to create chances(suarez) and most of the rest are headless chickens with good engines