The Key to Unleashing a Jaded Gerrard?

LUCAS has finally returned from injury to cement his place back in the Liverpool team and, fingers crossed, will now stay there for the foreseeable future with his injury problems hopefully a thing of the past.

The return of Lucas has a knock on effect at Anfield as, with the Brazilian back marshalling the midfield, the likes of Joe Allen and Steven Gerrard can return to a more familiar role in the team.

Something that is especially beneficial for the latter of the two. Our captain and prodigal son has, by his own immense standards, had a poor season and his decline has been evident over the past few years. Having said that, he is still just 32 and, taking the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs into account, still has a few years left at the top level if he looks after himself and changes his style of play for the better.

While Lucas was absent, Gerrard had to do a lot of the ‘dirty work’ that the Brazilian relishes and with that comes a lot of running about the pitch in an attempt to make a difference at both ends. Now that Lucas is back, Gerrard should concentrate on the attacking side of his game and leave the defensive side to Lucas and Joe Allen – as well as the back four, of course. This means that ‘Stevie G’ can make his mark in the final third and, despite not having the energy that he used to, can still use his ability to benefit the team.

Joe Allen is favoured by Brendan Rodgers as the middle man between Lucas and Gerrard and the manager uses the Welshman as a link between the two, as well as a link between midfield and attack. With Allen currently out of form, Jordan Henderson is the other option for that role, however, whoever plays in that position needs to take defensive responsibilities largely away from Gerrard. This allows him to press up the field without needing to get back too often in a game as his stamina simply won’t allow him to perform for ninety minutes that way.
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With this style, Liverpool have a basis of four attackers and six defenders in any period of play. Of course, the suggestion that Gerrard never needs to track back and help his defenders would be absurd but, to get the best out of the England captain, he needs to be up the top of the field with the emphasis more on scoring goals than stopping them.

Rodgers has to manage Gerrard carefully and will do well to rest him in games where he is not necessarily needed. Nevertheless, it is not just resting that is important in reigniting Gerrard’s ability it is also how he is deployed on the pitch that is equally essential for Liverpool. No matter what any supporter may think, despite his loss of form, Steven Gerrard has not lost the ability to pick out a wonderful pass or produce a magnificent goal – it is simply a case of using him in the right way and that is exactly why Lucas is key for the Reds.

Expect an improvement in form from Gerrard now that Lucas has returned to full match fitness and is starting to impose himself on the game again. If Gerrard fails to lift his game then there is only one option for Rodgers – the captain needs to be dropped and, in response, hopefully he will work harder to inspire the club he has carried for the best part of the last decade. Have faith in Gerrard, have faith in Rodgers and, most of all, have faith in the club.
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