Steven Gerrard’s Anfield farewell, whilst unquestionably moving and tearful, couldn’t have gone much worse for him and the Reds. Yet, for most viewers that aren’t affiliated with Liverpool, their crushing defeat was exactly the send-off they wanted the talismanic captain to receive.
With a brief flick through any social media platform after the LA Galaxy-bound midfielder’s final Anfield outing, you will have seen – instead of admiration and appreciation for one of the Premier League’s most extraordinary performers throughout its existence – primarily hatred, bitterness, and pure glee at Gerrard’s failure to conjure up a vintage moment to drag Liverpool through the mud as he has done on so many occasions.
Some feel the media blew the occasion out of proportion. Others complain that Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard’s treatment paled in comparison (unfortunately Gerrard cannot control media coverage). A portion, inexplicably, believe he was never that good, and point to his slip against Chelsea, his decline in form this season, or lack of a Premier League medal in his collection as evidence.
Gerrard critics will use his transfer requests, and his desire to join Chelsea a decade ago as a stick to beat him and his fans with. Those same people claim the only reason he remained at Anfield was because threats were made to his family. Well, if that’s the case, why didn’t he join admirers Inter Milan or Real Madrid when Liverpool were a sinking ship, and no such threats were forthcoming? His loyalty is questioned by cynics despite his decision not to move on during the dark days of Tom Hicks and George Gillett’s ownership.
They also highlight his altercation with a disc jockey in 2008. Without being sure of the truth, they’ll believe the version of events in which he comes off worse, because that’s the story that suits them the most.
The primary reason people hate Gerrard, despite what they say, is because he’s good. He’s dead good. He has tormented every club in the Premier League and many across the continent. He’s hit screamers against Manchester United. He’s lashed a few past Chelsea, even as recently as last week. Arsenal, Manchester City and Everton have felt his wrath several times. Madrid, Inter, AC Milan, Porto, PSV Eindhoven, to name but a few, have fallen victim to Gerrard’s magic.
If people wish to compare him to Scholes and Lampard, that’s fine. It’s not a worthwhile comparison. They are all, contrary to popular belief, very different to one another in terms of style, and they played in teams of varying ability.
The fact that Gerrard never won the title shouldn’t be a blemish on his record. He would have walked into many Premier League-winning sides, and only his most irrational decriers will fail to recognise that.
When Liverpool’s decline in the 90s should have spelled the end for them as a competitive force, a local lad came through the ranks and categorically called a halt to their regression. It may now resume without him.
When the Reds lost Michael Owen in 2004 and were left with an average squad, they shouldn’t have been a force in Europe. The skipper ensured they were, and came up with two moments of typical Gerrard excellence – at Anfield in December and the Atatürk in May – without which the wait for a European Cup would have now surpassed 30 years.
There were more heroics in the subsequent season at the Millennium Stadium, and throughout the nine campaigns that followed. He played in the middle of the park, in front of the back four, off the front, even at full-back, and spearheaded numerous title challenges and cup runs that wouldn’t have transpired were it not for his presence.
Luis Suárez, considered one of the most gifted individuals to wear the famous red, called Gerrard the best player he’d ever played with. Fernando Torres, once the best centre-forward in the world, echoed those sentiments. Xabi Alonso regards him as “spectacular”. Those words aren’t to be sneered at.
It’s not just those that have played alongside Gerrard that appreciate his extraordinary talent. Thierry Henry described him as “unstoppable”. Andrea Pirlo begged Carlo Ancelotti to sign him for Milan. Zinedine Zidane went as far as saying Gerrard was “the best in the world”.
Yet such comments are dismissed, due to the bizarre nationwide refusal to accept that Gerrard is one of the best in a generation.
David Beckham moved on, and received nothing but plaudits. Scholes retired, and there wasn’t a disparager in sight. Lampard is soon to leave the Premier League, and he’ll ride off without disapproval, despite joining Chelsea’s rivals Manchester City. No such relief for Gerrard.
Whether Steven Gerrard is the Premier League’s best ever player is open for debate. Whether he belongs in the conversation is not. His final campaign at Anfield has been far from spectacular by his standards, but the boy from Whiston, who dreamt of pulling on the Liverpool jersey just once, deserves respect from all who have witnessed his unique immensity.
Comments.
Loading comments…