The Kop legend has been the heartbeat of the club for over a decade now but is his waning presence now hampering his side’s performances amid more contract speculation?
A little over a decade on from his heroics that dragged Liverpool past Olympiakos and into the knockout stages of the Champions League, Steven Gerrard remains the main attraction at Anfield.
Liverpool, as we all know, went onto lift the trophy on that famous night in Istanbul in 2005 with one of the most dramatic comebacks in football history, the captain beginning the great escape as the Reds trailed AC Milan 3-0.
His name is still met with the loudest cheer when the teams are read out at Anfield and rightly so. But the 34-year old no longer warrants a starting place, and it now looks time for the Reds skipper to seek a fresh challenge.
In Thursday’s 2-2 draw with Leicester City, Jordan Henderson was placed on the right hand side of midfield to accommodate Gerrard in the centre, a decision that could have cost the Reds all three points with an ageing midfield overrun by a vibrant home side as the game wore on.
Henderson can now offer the same level of energy in the centre that the former England captain once did and the changing of the guard must be a high priority for Brendan Rodgers, with the Huyton-born skipper’s performances now persistently being questioned.
Gerrard was rested for Monday evening’s convincing 4-1 victory over Swansea and the balance of the midfield was there for all to see, with Adam Lallana shining in a more youthful side.
Whether the result would have been the same had the captain started remains to be seen but could his position at the club be preventing Rodgers from moving to replace him?
The problem is not that he is getting older – everyone does – it is Liverpool’s enduring reliance on him. When he plays he is still expected to take every free-kick and corner as well as be the main engine room of the midfield, without anyone else to share the burden.
Manchester United encountered the cost of failing to replace their ageing stars when Ryan Giggs was still playing at 40 and Paul Scholes came out of retirement and still regained his place in the side.
Rodgers faces a big decision in the coming weeks and months. The Northern Irishman, and Liverpool as a club, must not let their hearts rule their heads when deciding on the future of a club legend.
But at the same time they must not worry too much about Gerrard’s age – after all Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba are both still key figures in the Premier League, when used, and are two years older than the Liverpool man. The big difference though is that the Manchester City and Chelsea squads surround their veterans with more quality.
Gerrard is now free to speak to clubs from abroad with his current deal expiring within six months and there will no doubt be several clubs interested in his services.
Toronto FC and New York Red Bulls have both expressed an interest in taking the one-club man to the MLS, offers that may well tempt Gerrard given that his long-term position in this Liverpool side remains unclear.
Rodgers himself appears to be particularly laid back about the situation.
“I have got a great relationship and communication with Steven so we understand exactly the position,” the Liverpool boss told reporters. “He has earned that respect if he does talk to anyone.”
After the lacklustre second half display against Leicester, Rodgers once again refused to confirm whether his captain would remain at the club.
He added: “There’s no update. When there is we’ll let you know.”
Gerrard himself has spoken of his desire to continue his playing career, so the question is whether he is ready and willing to accept that his position at Anfield is changing and that it’s time for a new star to take centre stage?
Or, alternatively, does he want one last hurrah and the chance to experience football elsewhere?
With that in mind, Gerrard will no doubt have been concerned to hear his manager once again speaking of rationing his game time.
Rodgers said: “When I came in here two and a half years ago, everyone was talking about whether he can play in my type of football and were his legs gone?
“I’ve just got to manage his game time. It’s my situation of picking the best team and making it fresh as often as we possibly can.”
Seeing bottom club Leicester push on for a winner in the second half with little resistance shown from his midfield talisman may just have made up Rodgers’ mind on Gerrard.
It is an unenviable situation to be in, but continuing to build a team and even a squad around a player whose best years are behind him does not appear to be an option for Rodgers.
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