IT wasn’t all fun and games on Saturday, as the Reds rallied after a mid-game wobble to utterly destroy the second bottom-half of the league team of the week.
No, as Liverpool’s captain hobbled off, after pulling up with what looked like a strain after a formerly typical lung-bursting run and shot, it looked like a minor pull but would later turn out to be a hamstring injury that will leave Liverpool bereft of their captain for 6 weeks.
Of course, we’d all be forgiven for thinking the worst; we’ve just lost our second-best striker until after Christmas, and now our captain, still the most creative force in the Liverpool midfield.
In seasons gone by, I may have agreed. Gerrard’s engine alone has, in previous years, been the driving force behind much of the good things that came out of the Liverpool team. When surrounding by weak sides, as in the past few years, Gerrard has been almost alone as the shining light in the darkness.
And, when surrounded by other great players (as previously under Benitez, and increasingly under Rodgers), the captain has excelled and his performances have increased, producing more assists, goals and top performances.
However, at his current age, it is likely that the captain would’ve been likely to tire once we reached the final third of the season, when a long season – and a small squad – began to take their toll. But his absence until mid-January may not be as huge a blow as we believe. For two reasons.
Firstly, it gives him a rest. That might sound very simplistic to say so and may even be a bit counter-intuitive, given the intense bunch of fixtures coming up prior to Christmas and over the New Year period it is a huge blow, in the short term.
But the fact that he’ll have 6 weeks of rest from matches and such intense training it may also be that we see Gerrard coming back in to his own at the business end of the season when many of his team mates and, more importantly, Liverpool’s rivals are tiring could actually turn out to be a huge boon for the club.
Secondly, it also means that somewhere, in the Reds limited squad, somebody will be given the opportunity to step up.
Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean that they will but it is the chance for Joe Allen, Jordan Henderson and others to show that they are capable of stepping into the captain’s shoes and ensuring that we won’t miss him.
I will keep my views of whether I believe these players are able to or not, because this isn’t about whether I believe that they can, it’s just about the fact that they now have the opportunity to step into the breach and out from under Gerrard’s very large shadow.
Over the years, Gerrard’s presence has had a stifling effect on all but the best players (and often the team itself) and some have had to leave the club to prove that they were genuinely talented. A prolonged period without him in the side and we could really see somebody like Allen blossom into the player his manager believes he can be.
At some point in the very near future, sooner rather than later, we’re going to have to get used to the idea of a Liverpool side without Steven Gerrard and I believe that the next month and a half could be a good trial run and provide the team with the opportunity to show that it can handle life without Captain Fantastic.
seriously We need quick adapting mid fielders who can create and score goals.we need not to waste time on waiting for players to prove themselves.just loan such players. Its time liverpool buy big name mids in we are to challange
Why all this hike about Gerrard? This guy plays with his full strength and determination 4 England but now don’t seem to be bothered about lfc result.I hope he stays 4 the rest of this season.Lfc don’t have an atom of chance against spuds cos they will man mark Suarez.Am afraid it might even be 3-0.Skrtel has been giving me heartbreak against big teams period.
This is the test for Rodgers, Spurs were the only team he has beaten out of the top 10 teams last season , and this season he has just the one win against a top half team, a poor Manc team, who everybody is beating. Are we flat track bullies or the real deal , the following weeks will tell us a lot. The others have put Europe to bed and will play one game a week like us, interesting times ahead. After a spend of £ 95m , it will need a manager with tactical know how to navigate these dangerous games. I personally can,t see it , Rodgers in 2 years has not shown enough top class know how . He is happiest giving the bottom teams a good thrashing, but with a player like Suarez in your team how can you fail to do that. CL position in January is crucial .I
Gerrard’s absence gives us a wonderful opportunity to do what? Nose dive off the top of the table so that none of the big names want to come here. This is not some glowing opportunity but a time to make the best of a bad situation. Yes we will eventually have to do without Stevie, but we need him more now than most people realize.
Think we might get a pasting at the hands of Man City…. scary stuff they’re displaying right at the wrong (injuries) time for us.
Boring troll
I love you, do you want to be my new boyfriend, the way you flirt with me really turns me on. Mwaaaah
We could meet for lunch and re-enact that scene from lady and the tramp, locking lips after sucking on the same spaghetti. I could troll you into bed as I know you love it when I troll, searching every second for my next post/trolling, slightly un-zipping your flies in anticipation.
I could even wear my troll outfit and you could pick me up in a public place, take me back to yours and you can show me clippings of my history on this site, reminiscent of when Alan Partridge had tea with his biggest fan, my trolling made into posters covering your every wall.
Or you could just get a life, I don’t mean like an avatar on your cherished and stained pc, one where you leave your cage and actually meet people, if you can’t face leaving your room, call the Samaritans, they’re there to help.
Good luck my child.
What a boring idiot.
Aaron / Ian still trolling .
Young love, it’s just so beautiful. X x
Ha ha ha ha . The fool who says ‘suarez is not that good’ returns . Total clown.
Without the oldman Gerrard dragging the team down in match Vs Spurs, we won fantastically! LFC is better without Gerrard – FACT! Yahooooooo !!!! We won !!!!