Will Gerrard’s Euro Form Help or Hinder Liverpool Next Season?

IT is often spoken that being called up for duty to your country is the proudest honour that can be bestowed upon you. Certainly as an Englishman, the pride and passion you must feel when representing the St. George flag must be overwhelming.

It comes as no surprise to me therefore, that Steven Gerrard and his leadership of his nation after being awarded the captaincy by Roy Hodgson, has been wholly flawless. Sitting alongside his manager, addressing the media, Gerrard looked and spoke as if he was totally committed to the task at hand; achieving success with England.

A sense of relief washes over me when my mind strays onto domestic issues and realise that the man leading our country is also the man leading Liverpool. His performances at International level this year have gained far more recognition than his performances for his club team.

Granted, thanks to injury he could only make 18 league appearances last year but his form when he was in the starting XI was short of his maximum potential.

So, after great successes with England, will Gerrard’s Anfield performances be given a much needed boost next season, or have great performances this summer risen expectation too high for a man whose prime years may be behind him?

It can never be questioned what Steven Gerrard has done to our club. His commitment and attitude earn him respect from all nuances of the sporting world, captaining a team terrifically that has given him little silverware in return. European success in 2005 was the catalyst for the skipper’s long tenure at Anfield and with the captain’s band for club and country now firmly placed around his left arm, the midfielders performances have never been in higher demand. If Gerrard’s form continues to blossom and is transcended to the start of the domestic season, Rodgers will be jumping for joy. At just 39, the new man at the helm is no veteran. He may need assistance to command immediate respect from a versatile dressing room and much of that may come from his captain.

Gerrard may also flourish in the probable new system that will be implanted into the team. He may be forced to keep the ball and play the simple pass rather than create as often as possible but he will still no doubt act as the catalyst from defence to attack. Regardless of his adaptation to the system, his England performances this summer should guarantee Gerrard comes back fired-up and ready to achieve similar results at his beloved club.

The other, less enjoyable side of the coin for Reds fans is if Gerrard returns to Anfield and does not perform the way he has done in Ukraine. The midfielder will have undoubted expectation on his shoulders regardless of his Euro 2012 tournament performances. Not a stranger to handling pressure and expectation, Stevie G has seen upheaval at Liverpool numerous times but with an undoubted new style of play, a younger manager, a team that failed to connect as required last season and an expectation to bounce back after the mediocre showing under Kenny, it could all be too much for the 32-year old.

If Gerrard had not been given the captaincy for England, would as many eyes be watching him? Would expectation levels be as high as they are? Will the additional pressures affect his performances for Liverpool? This may detract from his Liverpool form and work on the pitch.

What the Whiston born playmaker may need to do is use the pressure and responsibility that he has been presented with and use it as a driving force to lead Liverpool through this period of transition with as much respect, passion and nobility as he has with England this summer.
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