Topic: Steven George Gerrard of Liverpool and no longer England

[StrikingMidfield]

So, RAWK gets its wish about having a Gerrardless midfield. It was not pretty.

We were just fine when he was playing and we were just fine when he went off. Moses replacing Sterling was the biggest issue for our midfield today. Gerrard had a very good game, but he can't be expected to be playing games at this rate. He needs a break. I'd rather see him play every other game than play every game and run himself into the ground.

[andspecks]

What? We were class before and after he went off. Allen getting forward when Lucas came on was playing some brilliant football along with Coutinho dropping back.

Right, I must have been imagining that period where it was all West Ham at 2-1 and we looked likely to concede a second.

[Cid]

Hope it's not too serious, still wildly irresponsible by him, Rodgers and the fitness staff to allow him to start all 3 games and not get the hook in at least one, with Norwich being the obvious choice.

Agree to be honest.  All 3 games at his age was a big ask.  Let's hope for good news on the injury.

Our midfield did get worse after he went off and we were in danger of losing control of the game.  I'm not sure whether that was the lack of gerrard or Lucas taking the DM position though..allen linked the defensive line to midfield extremely well and Lucas didn't really keep that going.

[Garcepticon]

Conspiracy theory; Gerrard isn't injured but wanted to come off because it was game over. Rodgers knew that Allardyce's feelings would get hurt if we hooked him in any other way. Thoughts?

[robgomm]

Hamstring strain according to Rodgers.

[Juan Loco]

Completely lost it after he went off. Not immediately, but as soon as the game settled back down after that sub it was West Ham's until Johnson's absolutely unreal cross.

Really hope it's not too serious. Don't think the midfield is as good without him and perhaps even more importantly, his set pieces represent our best chance of a goal other than Suarez.

[LFC when it suits]

Completely lost it after he went off. Not immediately, but as soon as the game settled back down after that sub it was West Ham's until Johnson's absolutely unreal cross.

Really hope it's not too serious. Don't think the midfield is as good without him and perhaps even more importantly, his set pieces represent our best chance of a goal other than Suarez.

I think we lost our a way little after they scored but then we regained control and settled down but before that we didn't let them out their own half for about 10 mins.

[BazC]

Right, I must have been imagining that period where it was all West Ham at 2-1 and we looked likely to concede a second.

Yeah you probably were. They had a few jammy balls thrown into the box, get an own goal in their favour and we were back at it after a bit. They didn't look likely to get their second. We scored 2 goals after that as well. We kept the ball well created many chances and even a bit better in finishing, we'd have smashed another 4.

[robgomm]

I don't think we lost it when he went off, we did OK but their silly goal stung confidence and where we missed him was in responding to that. You're gonna miss the captain in those situations. I think my query would be the way we set up after he went off, with Lucas as a 1 in front of Henderson and Allen. I'd rather see a 2-1 with Lucas/Allen, Coutinho in front and Hendo on the right. That was where we lost the run of it a bit, because Allen had been controlling the game where he was and it was more moving him that cost us for me.

Gerrard will be missed, for his great delivery but also he keeps things ticking over even when very quiet as he was in the first half today.

[lorenzo23]

Completely lost it after he went off. Not immediately, but as soon as the game settled back down after that sub it was West Ham's until Johnson's absolutely unreal cross.

Really hope it's not too serious. Don't think the midfield is as good without him and perhaps even more importantly, his set pieces represent our best chance of a goal other than Suarez.

Lost it so much that they couldn't get out there own half till the silly own goal? and then we scored 2 more but hey, we lost it after all.

[Fiasco]

Did Rodgers put a time frame on it? That said, it's probably way too early I suppose. Hopefully he'll be back for Spurs but if not, the hectic Christmas period. He needs managing better, hopefully this is a bit of a wake-up call for Brendan and the staff.

[Juan Loco]

Lost it so much that they couldn't get out there own half till the silly own goal? and then we scored 2 more but hey, we lost it after all.

How'd they score if they didn't get out of their own half?

[J-Mc-]

Did Rodgers put a time frame on it? That said, it's probably way too early I suppose. Hopefully he'll be back for Spurs but if not, the hectic Christmas period. He needs managing better, hopefully this is a bit of a wake-up call for Brendan and the staff.

Didn't look in to much pain going off so reckon he's felt it slightly and asked to come off so as not to risk it going completely.

Fingers crossed he's fit for next weekend.

[LFC when it suits]

Right, I must have been imagining that period where it was all West Ham at 2-1 and we looked likely to concede a second.

Yeah, that brief period was just as much due to West Ham getting a momentum boost after an own goal against the run of play but we retook control and saw out the game comfortably.

[Dakota]

Lost it so much that they couldn't get out there own half till the silly own goal? and then we scored 2 more but hey, we lost it after all.

Pretty sure we were playing against 10 men when the last one was scored too.

[Upinsmoke]

Hope his injury isn't too bad but that's what happens when your asked to play three games in a week against utter dross.

[ArchieC]

I'd be more worried if Coutinho went down instead of Gerrard in all honesty. A loss it is but I believe not a crucial one.
Still, we'll find out the extent of the injury soon, hopefully just a grade 1 pull. 

[LeoMessi]

Should have never played 3 games in a week in the first place

[Fromola]

Did Rodgers put a time frame on it? That said, it's probably way too early I suppose. Hopefully he'll be back for Spurs but if not, the hectic Christmas period. He needs managing better, hopefully this is a bit of a wake-up call for Brendan and the staff.

Shows how needless it was to play him 90 minutes on Wednesday. We need to allow ourselves to get used to Gerrard not being on the pitch.

This insistence on playing him 90 minutes in every game/reluctance to ever sub him or leave him out for any game needs to stop and by extension makes it more of a disruption when he does come off injured.

[LFC when it suits]

Shows how needless it was to play him 90 minutes on Wednesday. We need to allow ourselves to get used to Gerrard not being on the pitch.

This insistence on playing him 90 minutes in every game/reluctance to ever sub him or leave him out for any game needs to stop and by extension makes it more of a disruption when he does come off injured.

He has done well to stay fit these last 18 months considering his age and lack of rest. Wish he could have had this kind of injury record in his prime.

[Brentieke]

Shows how needless it was to play him 90 minutes on Wednesday. We need to allow ourselves to get used to Gerrard not being on the pitch.

This insistence on playing him 90 minutes in every game/reluctance to ever sub him or leave him out for any game needs to stop and by extension makes it more of a disruption when he does come off injured.

Completely agree. Poor management by Rodgers on Wednesday.

Even poorer management by Gerrard to take pain killing injections to play a silly friendly against Germany when he could have taken 2 weeks to rest all his niggles.

[lorenzo23]

How'd they score if they didn't get out of their own half?

Guess you didn't read the post so eager to not give credit to rest of team. I said we pinned them back until the silly goal and then still went on to score another 2?

No doubting Gerrard was missed at times in second half but at same time he wasn't.

[Juan Loco]

Completely agree. Poor management by Rodgers on Wednesday.

Even poorer management by Gerrard to take pain killing injections to play a silly friendly against Germany when he could have taken 2 weeks to rest all his niggles.

Hasn't he confirmed it wasn't a painkilling injection, but something he does every season?

[clinical]

Hamstring strain according to Rodgers.

could be couple of weeks that, or could be a few days, who knows

[Brentieke]

Hasn't he confirmed it wasn't a painkilling injection, but something he does every season?

Did he? Didn't notice it if so. Could still have rested.

Hope he'll be fit next week. Whatever anyone says, he's a vital player, especially considering a big percentage of our goals are coming from his set pieces recently. Think I'm right in saying 9 goals have come from his set pieces this season.

[Number 7]

Didn't look too bad as he was walking off. Hopefully it's just a minor strain.

[LFC when it suits]

Did he? Didn't notice it if so. Could still have rested.

Hope he'll be fit next week. Whatever anyone says, he's a vital player, especially considering a big percentage of our goals are coming from his set pieces recently. Think I'm right in saying 9 goals have come from his set pieces this season.

Not to downplay his delivery which is excellent, but he does monopolise set pieces with the exception of free kicks for Suarez.

[rscanderlech]

I'd be more worried if Coutinho went down instead of Gerrard in all honesty. A loss it is but I believe not a crucial one.
Still, we'll find out the extent of the injury soon, hopefully just a grade 1 pull.

We will miss his set pieces for sure. But this gives Allen/Alberto the chance to be recognised.

[goalrushatgoodison]

That was the first time that Stevie has really put his foot through the ball for a season and a half. Ironically I think that his propensity to side foot the ball nowadays is actually to protect his groin but either way his body won't allow him to hit those pile drivers anymore.

[Danny_]

I'd take 1-1 if they can just hang on.

[Je99ers]

I don't think that an absence of Gerrard is going to be a problem because Allen or Henderson are capable of covering that.   

[andspecks]

Not to downplay his delivery which is excellent, but he does monopolise set pieces with the exception of free kicks for Suarez.

He lets Coutinho and Suarez both take a large amount of free kicks and corners, but you know who gives a shit if you can find another little niggling factor to bitch about when it comes to Stevie ey? Has what, 4 assists from free kicks? 5? But yeah, let's complain.

[Tommy Torres]

I don't think that an absence of Gerrard is going to be a problem because Allen or Henderson are capable of covering that.   

No they are not.

[GerrardRock2]

could be couple of weeks that, or could be a few days, who knows

Aye, let's hope it was a case that he felt a little twinge, decided to call his own number, and not proper snap or strain. Stevie's pulled himself off once or twice over the years in similar situations, hoping for the best. Some immense performances for  him this week. Walk On.

[spider-neil]

No they are not.

Yes, they are.

[Eeyore]

Completely lost it after he went off. Not immediately, but as soon as the game settled back down after that sub it was West Ham's until Johnson's absolutely unreal cross.

Really hope it's not too serious. Don't think the midfield is as good without him and perhaps even more importantly, his set pieces represent our best chance of a goal other than Suarez.

Live text from the BBC

65:31 Goal scored

Goal! Own Goal by Martin Skrtel, Liverpool. Liverpool 2, West Ham United 1.
64:07

Attempt blocked. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordan Henderson.
63:21

Attempt missed. Glen Johnson (Liverpool) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Raheem Sterling.
63:04

Attempt blocked. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Joe Allen.
62:04

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Joey O'Brien.
62:00

Attempt saved. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Joe Allen.
61:04

Attempt missed. Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Jordan Henderson following a fast break.
60:19

Foul by Jon Flanagan (Liverpool).
60:19

Joe Cole (West Ham United) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
59:47

Attempt blocked. Jon Flanagan (Liverpool) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
59:43

Attempt blocked. Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Skrtel.
59:02

Corner, Liverpool. Conceded by Joey O'Brien.
57:42

Attempt saved. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mamadou Sakho.
55:59 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, West Ham United. Joey O'Brien replaces James Tomkins.
55:39 Substitution

Substitution Substitution, Liverpool. Lucas Leiva replaces Steven Gerrard because of an injury.


We dominated for me right up until their goal. A case of goals changing games.

[carling]

Not to downplay his delivery which is excellent, but he does monopolise set pieces with the exception of free kicks for Suarez.

So we've scored 9 goals from Gerrard set pieces.  Suarez is banging them in, or coming close, every match with free kicks around the box, and to top it off, Coutinho is taking corners (including one we scored from 3 days ago).

And you still feel the need to say Gerrard is 'monopolising' set pieces? 

Weird.

[Caligula?]

Yes, they are.

To an extent. But nobody in the league delivers a ball like Gerrard though, so if he is out for a few games, it's a massive loss.

[rocco]

Fcuk i blame Hodgson

[carling]

Anyway, he'll be a massive miss, but I'd be even more concerned if Allen didn't have such a good game today.  He is going to be important for us in Gerrard's absence, and good luck to him.