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Steven Gerrard
Perhaps no other player signifies Liverpool in the last 2 decades as much as Steven Gerrard. He was the ”the engine” in Liverpool’s style, covering every blade of grass on and off the ball. His energetic box-to-box running not only provided key passes to a range of Liverpool attackers from Torres to Suarez ,but also last ditch tackles and amazing long range efforts.
Steven Gerrard played with the same passion and hunger for Liverpool like the greats before him in the ilk of Paisley, Dalglish, Souness and others. Being usually deployed as a central midfielder, it would surprise many that his 1998 Liverpool debut came at the right back position, at just 18 years of age.
Goals wise, his most productive season for Liverpool was 2008-09 under Rafa Benitez, wherein he got 9 assists and 16 goals. Playing in a relatively more advanced midfield role, Gerrard was given the freedom to link up with the then in form and pacy Fernando Torres.
The solid midfield base of Javier Mascherano and Xabi Alonso was pivotal in Gerrard playing the CAM role. But overall 2013-14 can be counted as one of his best seasons, when he notched 13 goals and 13 assists almost leading LFC to the elusive EPL title. Now playing a deeper pivot role alongside an anchor-man, he was the base of many Liverpool attacks starring the famous Suarez, Sterling, and Sturridge trio.
Gerrard remains among the best penalty takers and free kick specialists in EPL. He is only behind Ryan Giggs as EPL’s leading assist makers with 99. Many of Gerrard’s goals were paramount for Liverpool and filled with oodles of quality.
Gerrard’s career almost ended before it began, having suffered a serious injury when he was 10. He has won a number of accolades, though Gerrard’s biggest regret will undoubtedly be not winning a single Premier League title with Liverpool. Under Brendan Rodgers, he and his team came so close in 2013-14 but then his “slip up” against Chelsea followed and Manchester City were the benefactors as they won the EPL.
Gerrard received a rousing tribute as well as guard of honour from the Anfield faithful when he played his last Liverpool home game after a 27-year Liverpool career.
Arsene Wenger was always an admirer of Gerrard. Here are Le Prof’s words on him – “I would like to pay tribute to a fantastic career. He has remained loyal to his club for his whole career and we don’t see that a lot, especially that kind of quality of player. When you look at his qualities it’s hard to see what he didn’t have in the locker. He’s quick, a good passer, good technique, could score goals, a dream midfielder. He had every single quality needed for midfield.”
Frank Lampard
Frank Lampard Jr. continues to be a beloved Chelsea icon, in spite of his latest stint with the Citizens. Frank Lampard’s best days came in the blue of Chelsea, where he became known for his prolific goal scoring exploits, positional awareness and eye for a key pass.
Lampard holds some important EPL records. He recently became the 4th top scorer in EPL history (176 goals) eclipsing another legend of the game Arsenal forward Thierry Henry, an amazing feat for a midfielder. He is Chelsea’s all-time top scorer too. He has that knack of being at the right place at the right time and has consistently applied it for many seasons. Also possessing precision from long range shots as well as penalties, Lampard was so often the ideal supplement to Chelsea’s attacking play.
That Chelsea no longer needed the services of Lampard was rubber stamped with the signing of ex Gunner Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona last season. City offered a yearlong deal and Pellegrini used him intelligently as an impact player in the final third.
Apart from his undoubted finishing qualities, his ability to pick a pass was highlighted with game-changing assists like the one vs Barcelona (2011-12, a game which Chelsea drew and later went on to win the Champions League).
Frank’s lowest point in his professional career was possibly losing a Champions League final to one of your fierce domestic rivals. When Chelsea lost to Manchester United on penalties in the Moscow 2008 final. Lampard still got some credit as being one of the scorers in the match, the other being Ronaldo.
Jose Mourinho has seen the best of Lampard for and against him, so he is the ideal person to talk about him. He said on occasion of Lampard’s last EPL game, playing at City last season – “One of my best players ever, one of my best professionals ever. Chelsea and also Premier League legend. So, the last match for Frank, and I have to honour him and wish him the best.”
These three top class players have been around for a while and are now looking for their last payday abroad. Hope these moments will let us relive the class of these players.
These moments made them the big names they are now and these will be the ones we remember them by for years to come. All three for most of their careers stayed loyal to the clubs which made their name, and still possess great admiration and respect for the same.
Their heir apparent may have arrived on the scene but no one can adequately replace them .These are the midfielders who changed as well as controlled games with their ball distribution, shooting and finishing abilities. They are the leaders generations dared to emulate and idolized, they are legends in their own right. They will always be amongst footballs greatest.
