Ian Rush: Steven Gerrard is the Best Liverpool Midfielder Of All Time
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This week, Liverpool became the first English team to win all six group games in the Champions League despite Jurgen Klopp resting several key players against AC Milan.
It’s a fantastic achievement to do that and when you look at it, Liverpool could have afforded to lose the game but they were very professional, went about things the right way and got their win.
I think we all know Liverpool’s best XI is capable of beating anyone in world football, but it’s Liverpool’s squad depth that people point the finger at when looking for holes in their credentials. I suppose you could say the win over Milan was a good indicator of their squad depth.
The likes of Manchester City still have greater squad depth, but it just goes to show that youngsters are coming through at Liverpool and are beginning to make their mark, so maybe Klopp has a stronger squad than people have been giving him credit for.
I thought the two centre-backs were excellent against Milan. We’re so used to seeing Virgin van Dijk in there and we rely on his experience, so to see two squad players come in – Nat Phillips and Ibrahima Konaté – and perform really well with Neco Williams at right-back, that’s a really encouraging sign for Liverpool because that was a pretty young defence.
I’ve said from day one that I believe an English team will win the competition again this year and I see the bookmakers feel the same as it’s even-money for a Premier League team to win it.
Liverpool are quite rightly among the favourites Champions League betting offers. When you consider that Barcelona are out and Real Madrid are not as strong as they once were, there’s really only Bayern Munich that can trouble the Premier League teams in my opinion. I think most of the Premier League teams can handle the rest so it’ll be interesting to see the draw for the next round and who’s left by the semi-final stage.
Of the four Premier League teams I’d say Liverpool have the most momentum in Europe, so I think they have an excellent chance, but when the knockout stages come along you can’t afford to have a bad game so there’s a lot of pressure there and we’ll just have to see how things pan out.
I mentioned in a previous column that Divock Origi will be a big player for Liverpool in January so I’m delighted to see him get a chance and take his opportunities in the last two games. At the moment he’s certainly producing and I’d like to see him get a few more games under his belt to get his match fitness up ahead of the new year when we’ll be a few players light during the Africa Cup of Nations.
Gerrard Returning To Anfield
It will be an emotional occasion when Steven Gerrard returns to Anfield as Aston Villa manager this weekend and I’m expecting a raucous reception for him from the Kop.
For me, he’s the best midfielder Liverpool have ever had. He got Liverpool out of so many tight situations as a player, he was a great captain, a true leader – he had everything. He’s certainly one of the best players we’ve ever had and in my opinion he’s the best midfielder in the club’s history.
Having said that, once the Villa game starts, his job is to beat Liverpool and the fans will want him to lose as soon as the ball starts rolling.
After the game, whatever happens, Stevie will have the best wishes of the Liverpool support because he’s a club legend. He’s right up there with the best players ever to wear the Liverpool shirt.
You can see a few of his traits already in his Villa team. They’ve already had a few late winners, a come-from-behind win against Leicester and they pushed Manchester City all the way earlier this month too.
He’s done well so far, won three from four with their only defeat coming to City, and I thought they were a bit unlucky in that game. They’ll come to Anfield with a gameplan and it won’t be an easy match for Liverpool. Villa will get chances and they’ve got to take them. If they don’t take their chances then they’ll likely lose because Liverpool are scoring goals for fun right now.
Liverpool’s Next Generation of Academy Graduates
There will be a few players in the Liverpool camp who look up to Stevie, such as Trent Alexander-Arnold who is a fellow scouser who graduated from the Academy and will have been inspired by him when he was first on the fringes of the first team.
Some of the younger players on the fringes now will be looking to emulate Trent by breaking into the first team and you’d hope they all harbour hopes of becoming a club legend like Gerrard.
Having worked at the Academy, Stevie will know a lot of the young players in and around the Liverpool first team, such as Tyler Morton, Max Woltman and Conor Bradley who all featured in Milan.
I’m sure he’ll be pleased to see them coming through. Woltman and Bradley may only have had a few minutes on the pitch in the San Siro, but the real experience for them will be training with the first team and going away on a trip to Milan with the whole squad.
Tyler Morton seems to be the one most capable of making an impact at the moment but if they’re all training with the first team that’s invaluable experience. When you start training with the first team, everything is quicker and at a higher level, and if you can keep up with it you’ve got a chance. And then, when you’re asked to play, you’re ready.
Title Race Heating Up This Winter
It’s amazing what a win like Liverpool’s over Wolves can do for a dressing room. Had they strolled to a 2-0 or 3-0 win, it would have felt like an ordinary result, but when you look at the reaction on the bench when Origi scored in the last minute it goes to show you how big that goal was and how important them three points were.
It wasn’t easy, Liverpool missed a few chances but they had to fight to the very end and the reaction just shows you how good the team spirit is, everyone’s in this together.
You’d still have to say Manchester City are the favourites for the Premier League title given the strength in depth they have. They seem to be keeping most of their squad fit as well which will obviously be key in the race.
But I don’t see any of the big three falling away anytime soon so it looks to me as though we’ve got ourselves a three-horse race. Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all in it and we could see all of them top the table at one stage or another over the Christmas period.
I wouldn’t read too much into Chelsea’s defeat at West Ham – Liverpool also lost there remember – and West Ham are a really good side. It’s hard to overlook City though, they’re the reigning champions and are showing no signs of slowing down.
Reds Eyeing City’s Goal Record
With the way Liverpool are scoring goals at the moment, it’s possible they could break Manchester City’s record of 106 goals in a Premier League season. They’ve got 44 goals after 15 games and the season City scored 106 they had 46 goals after 15 games, so they’re almost on par with the record.
The way Liverpool play they’re always going to create chances and so far this season they’ve been taking a lot of them. OK, against Wolves they only got one very late in the day, but in most other games they’ve been very hot in front of goal and given the attacking football they play there’s a chance they can break that record.
Having said that, it’s going to be difficult to sustain that goalscoring rate as the games come thick and fast over Christmas and I notice Liverpool have three games in 10 days while some other teams only have three games over 13 days.
It looks a little unfair on the face of it, but all managers will feel the right to complain about the fixture build-up at this time of year and who can blame them when their players are being asked to give so much.
They’re only human beings at the end of the day and we all need rest, but that’s the schedule as things are and everyone will just have to get on with it. What we tend to see around this period when there are games right, left and centre is that the quality isn’t as high because fatigue kicks in.
It leaves everyone vulnerable because all players are getting tired and that’s when mistakes are made. Maybe that’s part of the appeal of the Christmas scheduling in the Premier League, but it is what it is and everyone involved will just have to kick on.
Liverpool Transfer Rumours
I keep one eye on the transfer rumours surrounding Liverpool but it’s important to take them with a pinch of salt because most rumours mount to nothing, but some transfer talk is too exciting to ignore.
I really rate Jude Bellingham as a player and he has been linked with Liverpool for a while now. I’m not sure if January would be the right time to sign him but if they could begin talks and agree a deal to go through next summer then I think they could look at that option.
It’ll be interesting to see if the transfer links are real and if he was to come either in January or next summer, I think Liverpool fans would be very happy.
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