It may be sacrosanct to just come right out and say it, but here goes.
Steven Gerrard is not playing anywhere near the level required to be a stable fixture in Liverpool’s starting XI.
An unfortunate truth, unearthed only recently during his appearances with the LA Galaxy, where he looked uncharacteristically sluggish given the tempo of Major League Soccer.
Of course, every Liverpool supporter will draw faint-hearted memories upon his aura and mystique, reveling in the equalising FA Cup final goal at the last possible moment against West Ham, among others, but he is not the same player he used to be.
Any inclusion of him into the side, if a loan deal is agreed, could be painful for a squad which has come so far in the last months. His qualities are still tried and true on some areas of the pitch i.e. passing, tackling, heading; but, his overall performance level has drastically decreased, leaving little room for his inclusion should Jurgen Klopp decide to pursue his temporary signature.
And that’s why this break is perfect for the role Steven Gerrard “should” be playing.
He’s now a mentor; a footballing father figure who has seen the ups and downs of a turbulent Premier League so many times in the last 17 years, that he can only sit and shake his head when things inevitably go awry.
It’s important to keep this in mind when wishing for an emotionally charged Anfield return, a la Thierry Henry at Arsenal, because it could end up doing more harm than good. Breaking up the chemistry to allow Gerrard playing time sounds as harsh on the ears as it does on the fingertips when writing it, but the Merseyside hero has reached a point in his career where he may not play up to par in the world’s top competitions.
Seeing him huddled among the likes of Jordan Rossiter and Jordan Henderson gives supporters a sensation unlike any other, because it’s like watching the future go back in time to teach its younger self the better path to follow. They will ultimately benefit from his presence at Melwood and Anfield, and that’s the aspect that should be focused on most while the beloved former captain and life-long Liverpudlian trains with the Reds again.
