Steven Gerrard admits the last thing Liverpool needed ahead of this afternoon’s clash with Manchester United was a settled and re-focused Wayne Rooney.
The England striker put behind him a summer of transfer speculation and produced a Man-of-the-Match performance against would-be suitors Chelsea last Monday.
Gerrard knows his fellow Liverpudlian well, and Rooney’s attitude when asked to play against the club trying to sign him didn’t surprise the Anfield skipper.
“It’s bad news for us that Wayne seems to have settled at United, simple as that” he says. I’ve worked with him for a long time, I know him personally and he’s a top player. Are Manchester United weaker without him? Yes.
“His head looked all right the other night to me. He was the best player on the pitch.
“I know Wayne the character, and I’ve been in that situation myself when there’s speculation about your future.
“Of course it affects you. It’s in every paper, on every TV channel. But I think Wayne’s experienced enough to cope with that type of attention.
“He’s had attention on him since he was 16. If he plays against us, there’s no doubt in my mind that he can play well.
“I think he’ll have a fantastic season for United, which is not good news for everyone else in the Premier League.”
Liverpool take a 100% start into the clash with United and Gerrard believes the gap between his side and the top four is closing.
He confesses, however, that it might not close fast enough for him to be able to claim his first title medal before he retires.
“I think a lot of things would have to happen here within the next 12 months,” he says. “I’m 33, I’ve got two years left on my contract and realistically I’m quite a distance away from winning the League at the moment.
“I have to take that on the chin but I’ll never give up fighting for it. Physically, I feel as good as I’ve felt and maybe I can play on beyond two years. I haven’t made that decision yet. For me, it would be a dream to lead this team out again in the Champions League at Anfield.
“I’ve had some of the best nights of my career in front of our crowd in that competition. That’s more realistic.
“I could have moved. I could have earned more money. But I made the decision to stay and I’ve no regrets.”
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe