The debate rages on… Will Steven Gerrard stay at Liverpool?
A new contract has reportedly been offered to the 34-year-old but Gerrard continues to remain coy on the subject and has not answered as to whether he will remain at Anfield from next season.
After being benched by Brendan Rodgers at Anfield against Stoke on Saturday, raising speculation on Gerrard’s future at the club, the midfielder returned to the starting line-up in last nights 3-1 away win at Leicester City. The captain bagged Liverpool’s second on the night and his third this season.
The subject of whether Gerrard should remain at the club has split opinions, some believe his time is up with his drop in form and alleged falling out with manager Brendan Rodgers while others believe he still has much to offer the club. It’s an interesting debate and fair arguments can be made for both sides.
Gerrard has already proved this season that he can still has the ability in effecting results with his set piece talent as he showed against both Everton and Ludogorets. His leadership and experience qualities are gold dust and irreplaceable at the very top level. Many key factors as to why Liverpool must do all they can in securing Gerrard’s future at the club.
On the other side, with Suarez long gone and Sturridge suffering from a spate of injuries, Gerrard’s main threat from his new found deep lying role in finding strikers with that killer pass has been lost. The captain is not a defensive midfielder so other than creativity what can he offer the team with strikers that do not make the runs that his ability requires.
Opta powered fantasy football game www.oulala.com has taken a deep look at Gerrard’s performance stats from last season’s campaign and from this season so far. In comparing his effectiveness in different areas the results echo that the missing Suarez and Sturridge has had a major influence in his creativity to decrease with his assists and chances created figures falling. In fact almost all of the midfielders stats have dropped, some dramatically. Should the quick decline in all areas be cause for concern for Liverpool?
It is clear that season by season his impact will drop, that’s inevitable. We’ve seen other clubs continue with long serving players when it’s clear that their performances do not merit inclusion, Gary Neville is one player that springs to mind. Choosing the right time to call it a day is the key, a very difficult decision for anyone to make, a player, a manager or a club, especially when they’re thought of as a club legend, if not the greatest player to ever wear the club badge…
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