OK, I might be wrong about Steve Gerrard

Filed in archive Players on April 3, 2008

I have written critical pieces about Steve Gerrard before now as I don't believe he has ever produced the goods in an England shirt. If anything, I have always felt that he was a slightly overrated player. Don't get me wrong, I think he's good, I just haven't ever thought he was 'world class'. Once again, however, last night Gerrard took my words and rammed them down my throat!

After Liverpool had gone a goal down to Arsenal in their Champions League quarter-final last night they needed someone to get them together. They needed someone to drive them on and they needed someone to get them back in the game. Step forward Stevie G.

Liverpools quick reply was almost entirely down to their captain. His desire, his energy and his skill created the goal for Kuyt. (I may have to retract some of the things I've written about Kuyt as well!)

The way Gerrard created that equaliser was, well, world class. If you can produce that type of thing in a Champions League quarter final then I have to admit, world class is probably the right description.

I still stand by my feelings that he hasn't ever produced quite the same quality for England but then again, who does? We are in danger of developing a John Barnes syndrome. We all said that Barnesy never played well for England apart from one night in Brazil but he played 79 times for his country. You don't do that by being a bad International player. Gerrard already has 65 caps and the 27 year-old will go on to get many more.

I love the role that he is now being employed in for Liverpool. It gives him the freedom to look to constantly hurt the opposition. It is a shame that Fernando Torres isn't English! It is difficult to see the personnel in England that would allow Stevie G to play a similar role for his country.

It is important to admit when you may have been wrong in the past. I still wish he would do it for England though!