Comments, focussed largely (as much seems to be lately) with the likely outcome of the Luis Suarez transfer saga. Gerrard questioned Suarez's curious fixation with Arsenal. Now, this isn't going to be about Luis Suarez (much) but the timing of this game does highlight the lack of loyalty there seems to be in the modern game.
Now Gerrard is better placed than most to comment on this area. Back in 2004 and again in 2005 he seemed to be on the verge of signing for Chelsea. We prayed that he wouldn't and in the end sanity prevailed. I actually met Steven Gerrard in 2004, just after he announced that he would be staying at Liverpool. My recollections are sketchy as I was a little the worse for wear at that point, as you can see from the photo (I'm the one in the Jamie Carragher no. 16 England shirt). I do recall however telling him that "If we don't win the league this year it would be your fault." I was quite mortified when I remembered this the next day, but in fairness he held up his end of the bargain (sort of) by winning us the Champions League that season instead, which on balance I probably would have accepted at the time.
Now, the Gerrard and Suarez situations are different. Luis Suarez isn't playing for his hometown club. I suspect if he was he wouldn't be on quite the same money as he is these days. And it probably isn't true to say of Suarez that "A league title won in
But as Gerrard more or less pointed out - why the fuck would you want to go to Arsenal? He's better than that. Certainly if he stays, has another good season and doesn't bite anyone else, then he probably will be able to take his pick.
The crowd reaction to Suarez coming on against Olympiakios was interesting. Unsurprising really given the current state of affairs. Whilst, I can't imagine many Liverpool fans being too happy about the way he has handled himself over the past few weeks, he is still a Liverpool player and we'd quite like him to stay that way. Or at least sign for pretty much any other club apart from Arsenal (or Spurs). If the reaction had been less than positive then that would have made his mind up, if it hasn't been already.
Enough about Luis Suarez. This should really be about one man. A man whose Liverpool performances over the years I think were best described by Gordon Strachan - "I think he get's changed in a phonebox."
Steven Gerrard, has not won the title with Liverpool (yet - there is still time, although probably not enough) but he has won everything else. The only man to have scored in Champions League, UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup finals. A man directly responsible for quite a lot of the happiest moments of my life. Now it's fair to say that I'm not married or have kids yet - but they are going to go some to beat some of the levels achieved during 2005. Like for example, the reason we're playing Oympiakos today (click here for the link).
Less so in 2006 as I managed to miss the 30 yard screamer (and another video here) as I was having a piss, but that was probably a little more information than you needed at that point.
The greatest player in Liverpool history? I'm not sure. He's certainly up there with Dalglish and Rush. For me it's always going to be Rush, but that's because he did this in 1984 and I've been a Liverpool fan ever since (link).
He is certainly the best all round player Liverpool have ever had, and probably anyone has as far as I can remember. Ask yourself this.. you get a keeper each and put 10 Steven Gerrard's against 10 whoever else you like. Who would win? This is particular favourite pub conversation of mine.. and as has been pointed out to me frequently, it is a bit stupid. But what has not been pointed out to me is someone who would beat him - I'm reasonably confident a team of Carragher's would get battered.
He is head and shoulders above anyone else to have pulled on a Liverpool shirt for some time.. and sadly, probably for a while to come yet. But you never know.. there might be a couple of kids coming through the ranks to fill his boots, if they're not too busy playing FIFA.
