LA Galaxy’s ouster from the MLS at the hands of the Colorado Rapids in the play-offs on Sunday meant Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard’s time at the club ended with a whimper. However with rumours linking him with a return to Anfield, The Hard Tackle disseminates the merits and demerits of the 36-year-old’s potential move.
Hardly 18 months after moving stateside, Steven Gerrard called the shots on his MLS career with an Instagram post that revealed he was leaving the US after the culmination of the ongoing season with the Galaxy.
However, there were doubts on whether the announcement was a lead-up to a potential retirement from competitive football or a possible return to Anfield for a final swansong before he closes the curtains on an illustrious playing career.
The 36-year-old has also been linked with a potential coaching role at Liverpool, with sources close to the club claiming that the former England captain is looking to begin work on a future in management. Either ways it’ll be an interesting move for the Merseysiders should Gerrard return to the fold at the club in any role – player or coach.
But just how beneficial would the move pan out for both the parties is open for discussion and The Hard Tackle would like to weigh in on the debate assessing the pros and cons of the legend’s potential Anfield return.
Is it worth bringing in Gerrard as a player?
Lets face it, Steven Gerrard has aged and is well past his prime, and with Liverpool adopting a far more intensive playing style, it’s difficult to expect a 36-year-old to have the legs to make do with Klopp’s pressing game for 90 minutes, let alone a series of matches.
However, with Liverpool sitting top of the league and Klopp’s team encouraging fans to dream of a potential title charge, you will be forgiven for having flirted with the idea of Gerrard returning to the club for one last time to finally complete his trophy cabinet with an elusive Premier League title.
But even if he does return as a player, it’s safe to say from Klopp’s press conferences early on this year that he wouldn’t really receive as much game time.
With an absence from European football, the Reds have ample time on their hands between league commitments. Hence, Klopp will take all games including the Cup competitions seriously, in a bid to potentially keep his side in the mix for a domestic treble.
And given the emphasis the manager has laid on fielding his best players on the pitch for any fixture and the squad depth he has at his disposal this season, it’s hard to see how Gerrard will fit into the picture.
The ex-Reds captain’s time at the United States was littered with injuries and it prevented him from making a significant contribution to an LA Galaxy outfit supposed to be his final destination as a professional player.
Fielding an older player, who isn’t conditioned for the heavy pressing style of play, purely because of his legendary status at the club will go against Klopp’s ideals which indirectly sets a wrong precedent for other players. And given the impeccable rapport he has established with all the players at the club, that is the last thing the German boss would want.
A Gerrard return to lift the Premier League title with his beloved Liverpool team is the stuff of dreams for a football romanticist, but honestly even the legend won’t feel completely satisfied if he was used as a fringe player in the squad.
Steven Gerrard – the Manager?
Having spoken about the qualms surrounding his potential contribution as a player, it’d be worth highlighting the stakes for the club and Gerrard, if the 36-year-old is working as a coach behind the scenes along with a boss like Klopp. With bags of Premier League experience, the former captain’s presence will be of able assistance for a young Liverpool side.
The Reds boast the second-youngest team in the league and if they find themselves in the mix for the title in March, it’ll help to have a player like Gerrard around to ease the nerves a bit.
It wouldn’t just be local lads. Ovie Ejaria, a central midfielder would surely love his input. In that respect, tapping into such wisdom would make a return a no-brainer. The Academy would surely welcome Gerrard with open arms at Kirkby.
Moreover, the step into the realm of coaching at Liverpool will prove to be a solid foundation for a future in management, especially when he’s working with names as reputed as Klopp, Peter Krawietz, Željko Buvač and Pep Ljinders.
Although it is there to be seen what kind of role he is offered by the German boss at Melwood knowing that the latter has significant control over the proceedings at the club.
A players’ player, the presence of Gerrard could even prove to be an attractive proposition for prospective signings in the future for the Merseysiders. So having weighed in on the positives and negatives of what appears to be an impending return to his boyhood club, The Hard Tackle believe that a coaching role would be an ideal one for all parties.
Although it isn’t what most Reds’ supporters would like, his presence nevertheless will add to the feel-good factor around Anfield at the moment.
