Decade of Destruction! Stevie G Ten Years On

November 29, 2008

After completing a decade of service at his beloved Liverpool recently, there has been considerable reflection about the importance of Steven Gerrard to Liverpool Football Club over the years and in particular their efforts to land their first domestic league title since 1990. Liverpool’s ‘Miracle Man’, ‘Captain Fantastic’ and the ‘Huyton Hammer’, still awaits the one prize which would arguably put him ahead of Kenny Dalglish as the best player to have worn the red shirt when one considers where Liverpool were when Dalglish signed in 1977 in comparison to when Gerrard made his debut in 1998.

If money was no barrier, Gerrard is the one midfielder that every manager on would love to have in their team. His energy, passion and zest has taken him a long way since his debut against Blackburn Rovers. If this was Hollywood, Gerrard would be Rambo. His sheer presence on the pitch raises the performances of his colleagues. They know that when he is on the pitch, he will demand more from them and keep them on their toes. Stevie G has given Liverpool fans drama after drama, season after season and saved Rafa Benitez from a potential exit on a number of occasions. Just think Olympiacos, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal and Marseille to name a few in the Champions League and the 2006 Gerrard FA Cup final and the bullet goal Vs West Ham United. In the Premiership he has marked his authority time and time again. This season’s dramatic winner against Middlesbrough and last season’s sizzler at Villa Park on the opening day spring to mind as two of many.

However, the one item of silverware Gerrard needs and deserves still eludes him. Liverpool have had many false dawns since 1990 about their title ambitions but in the end they have fallen way off the pace in terms of points on many occasions. Quality and character are essential components of all title winning sides such as the ability to win games even when the performance is below par. The self confidence and character of the Liverpool side has already been apparent so many times this season but fundamental questions still do remain.

-Can Liverpool grind out results without Gerrard in the side?
-Do they have enough depth of quality in the squad to challenge for and/or cover in other positions when a player is suspended or injured?
-Is there enough creativity in the squad to unlock opposition defences when the game is looking like ending in a draw?

Liverpool are a very difficult side to beat with a shutout expert Goalkeeper and solid back line. They do not lose very often in the Premiership or Champions League. They lost fewer times in the Premiership last season than the eventual winners. However, the challenge is to convert the draws into victories. In previous seasons, Liverpool have drawn too many times which has effectively ruled them out of the title race by Christmas. This season Liverpool fans have endured frustrating afternoons against Stoke City and Fulham but luckily for them, the sides around them have also hit the wall which has kept Liverpool in the title pack.

As the season progresses, one can expect both Manchester United and Chelsea to get stronger and put Liverpool under immense pressure. The major positive for Liverpool is that Fernando Torres has plenty more left in the tank having had a stop-start season with injuries so far. His relationship with Gerrard which brought so many goals last season, needs to recover itself.

Liverpool fans will know this but if they are to win the Premiership title this season, it will be a roll-a-coaster of greater proportions than the Champions League winning season of 2005. It would be a footballing crime if Steven Gerrard, one of the most influential players of his generation, ended his career without a domestic title but as we know, football doesn’t reward sentiment. Liverpool can be serious title contenders this year and if they were to succeed and win the Premiership crown, it would be a tribute to their captain who plays football with the same heart and passion displayed by Liverpool fans throughout the world. Gerrard knows that playing and supporting Liverpool Football Club is not an occupation but an obsession.

Riaz Ravat

Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.