Won the league and deserves enormous respect for doing so, but it feels like the right decision. It felt broken and it was best for him as well as Liverpool.
There are other fingerprints on the make-up of this squad, though, and it’ll be interesting to see what happens now in terms of Hughes and Edwards.
"When I went to Old Trafford and saw Sir Alex Ferguson stand and Anfield Kenny Dalglish stand, I wasn't sure I would be"
Pep Guardiola on the stand named after him at the Etihad ✨
🏴🚀 20 years ago today, Steven Gerrard scored this goal against West Ham in the FA Cup final. 😮💨
Gerrard: "My favourite goal? West Ham. FA Cup final. 2006." 🏅
Mastery isn't a measure of time. It's a measure of what you do when time is running out.
With 80 minutes on the clock, Arsenal had the 2001 FA Cup Final in their grasp. Michael Owen needed just 7 minutes to score twice, secure a spot in the history books, and win the FA Cup for Liverpool.
That standard is what unites every player and every fan who has ever refused to accept that the game is over.
As part of the #EmiratesFACup Tokyo Takeover, we've teamed up with @BLUELOCK_WM to bring five of the competition's most iconic moments to life in the lead-up to the quarter-finals.
Andrea Pirlo:
“When I was at Milan, Ancelotti came to me and said: ‘I want to recruit Steven Gerrard to make him play with you in the middle. What do you think?’.
I said: “Good idea, sign him.”
At that point he was probably the most complete midfielder in Europe, so I was happy to play with him. Then I remember asking Carlo a few weeks later how the transfer was going and he told me Gerrard gave a very firm ′NO′′ and that his bond with Liverpool was unbreakable.
At that point Milan were European champions and probably had the best team in the world. Says a lot about Gerrard's loyalty”.
Ryan Gravenberch as a 6 is a serious problem. And it needs sorting ASAP.
You cannot play Ryan Gravenberch at the base of midfield and expect control. That role is about discipline, positioning, and defensive instinct.
He’s not a natural 6. He’s an 8. A carrier. A progressive midfielder.
When he plays deepest:
The space in front of the defence opens up , Transitions look chaotic, Runners aren’t tracked ,The tempo isn’t controlled
He had a poor first half and was rightfully hooked at HT. That tells you everything.
This isn’t about scapegoating him.
It’s about using players correctly.
If you’re Liverpool F.C., you cannot afford experiments in the most important midfield position.
Play him as an 8. Or don’t play him. But the 6 role? Right now, it’s hurting the team