With Steven Gerrard about to join another elite band of Liverpool FC history makers, it is little wonder he has been hailed the greatest by his Anfield manager.
The Reds' inspirational skipper stands just one goal away from a remarkable 100 in the Premier League for the club - a feat achieved only by the instinctive striking talents of Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen.
And, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers, it is actually hard to single out THE great goal from the 99 Gerrard has already scored... largely because just about every one seems to have been important.
Which is what makes the 33-year-old a true great who England should be proud - and thankful - to have, Rodgers insisted:
"What gets lost with him sometimes is people talk about what a great leader and captain he is, but forget he's still a world class player.
"I'd say he is probably the best I have ever worked with at a high tempo - and I have worked with top class players at Chelsea and here; some real technically talented ones over the years.
"He's a remarkable man, a remarkable captain and England should be honoured to have someone like that representing them on and off the field."
Gerrard struck another hugely important goal for England in midweek to seal their trip to Brazil for next summer's World Cup.
And Rodgers argued it is simply the mark of the man that he delivered when the pressure was on.
If Gerrard also scores at Newcastle this weekend, he will join two strikers who are widely regarded as among the greatest to have played for Liverpool in the 100 Club.
Rodgers said: "Just look at the other night. It was the 88th minute and people might have been getting a bit nervy, but he still drove the team on, still had the fitness and the quality to get such an important goal, which was brilliant to see.
"He always scores quality goals. The big players score the big goals and make the big contributions in the big games. If that's what determines a great player then that's what Steven Gerrard is.
"A lot of the goals you remember Steven scoring are from the big games.
"Early on in his career, he scored some brilliant goals - one against Arsenal when he ran through - but there's none that stand out because he has always scored quality goals.
"Steven still has a lot to contribute and he will have well over 100 Premier League goals by the time he finishes."
The skipper was the standout player in taking England to Brazil, but anyone thinking he will pay for such exertion doesn't know the player, argues Rodgers:
"I have no worries about him for Newcastle. He played a League Cup game against Notts County, extra time and everything, then went out and was brilliant against Manchester United.
"He put in his highest exertion of the season physically in that one, so I have no doubts about him this weekend."
No comments:
Post a Comment