FEBRUARY 1
Gerrard will need some convincing

By Mark Lawrenson - Daily Post

Steven Gerrard has been Liverpool's superman for the past 20 months.

Unfortunately though, he is still only human and this is what Chelsea will be banking their hopes of signing the midfielder on.

Questions about his future came up again at the weekend, including on Match Of The Day where he said he would think about it at the end of the season.

This is not news to anyone who follows Liverpool and while it is not a clear commitment to stay, it also gives the club some latitude in their battle to keep him.

Winning the Carling Cup would be a good start, and if that were followed up by fourth place in the league and a good Champions League run, then I believe Steven will stay. This is the man who has been Mr Liverpool for most of last season and all of this.

Since coming into the team in 1998, his improvement has been off the scale to his present - world class - level.. He is a Kopite through and through and what he wants most of all is not the sort of massive wages a move south would bring. I believe it is not about money for Steven.

Instead he wants to be part of a successful team, and if that team is Liverpool, then it would be utopia for him.

However it used to be that a move from Liverpool would be seen as a step down for a player. Nowadays, there are better teams in the Premiership and across Europe and they would all love to have Steven Gerrard playing for them.

With that in mind, if the second half of Liverpool's season does not go as they hope, then the stories will start again in the press and the clubs will come calling once again.

As I said, Steven is only human and if Chelsea offer him a king's ransom to play in a team which could dominate Europe for the next few years, it would be hard for anyone to say no.

Steven has already done it once. For him to do it again, he will have to be convinced Liverpool are making progress towards the top level.

JANUARY 31
Why Reds hope investment will not arrive from London

Liverpool Echo

After another weekend of rumours surrounding Steven Gerrard,
chief sports writer DAVID PRENTICE looks at what the future holds
for the Liverpool captain

According to the club's official website, Rick Parry's first call this morning will be to club lawyers about yet more Steven Gerrard speculation.

His second might well be to Hawkpoint, the company appointed to seek out interested investors at Anfield.

The ties keeping the inspirational captain at the club appear to be unravelling every week.

Gerrard spoke as honestly and as openly as he always does on Saturday night. And once again he failed to offer any assurances about his long-term Liverpool future.

"I'll sit down at the end of the season and assess my future," he declared, causing stomachs to lurch all over Anfield.

"Of course, it is flattering that some top clubs around Europe are showing an interest in me, but I am at a top club at the moment."

That is true. But there are other top clubs out there giving their managers the opportunity to rebuild and reinforce.

Chelsea, bolstered by Roman's roubles and Jose's eye for talent spotting, are more than halfway to a first title for 50 years. Manchester United's last purchase cost £27m - and they are still planning a 76,000 seater stadium to be finished in just two years.

Liverpool are still assessing whether a mystery investor is a better bet than Steve Morgan, or nothing at all.

It is a situation which has remained unresolved through two transfer windows - and that delay may already have proved fatal to hopes of keeping Gerrard.

The Carling Cup final, which Gerrard did more than anybody to help Liverpool reach, is a welcome opportunity for some silverware. But it is not the trophy he and every Liverpudlian wants their side to be chasing.

And after finishing 30 points behind Arsenal last season, the Reds are on target to finish a similar total behind Chelsea this time.

Rafa Benitez's net spend so far is something in the region of £16.5 million, which is less than Everton gave Walter Smith in the first two months after taking over at Goodison six years ago.

It was a sum barely enough to keep Everton in the Premiership that season, and is clearly not enough to bankroll a bid to win the thing.

Liverpool are increasingly reliant on emotional ties keeping Gerrard at Anfield.

Former boss Gerard Houllier knows him better than most, having nurtured his career from a raw, wiry 17-year-old.

"People should not underestimate the depth of feeling he has for Liverpool," he said. "He loves the club and the fans and I know there is nothing he'd rather do than lift the Premier-ship and Champions League as a Liverpool captain."

But Gerrard needs to see evidence that that could happen while he is still in his prime.

"Both Rafa Benitez and myself have made it clear to Steven that we want him to stay and that we see his future at Anfield," said Parry, who is clearly furious at the week-end's 'secret deal' reports which have been emphatically and immediately rebuffed by Liverpool. And which could well see words exchanged in court if the Reds carry out their threat to take legal action.

But for all the words, Gerrard - and all Liverpool supporters - are still waiting for action.

Liverpool have been waiting so long now for people to pump money into the club, that Reds supporters increasingly fear the most realistic investment could well be a £30m injection from a London-based institution.

Chelsea Football Club.

JANUARY 29
Gerrard hints at summer exit

Sporting Life

Steven Gerrard will consider his Liverpool future in the summer after admitting he was flattered by the attention of Europe's elite clubs.

The Anfield skipper helped the Reds reach the Carling Cup final this week, scoring the only goal in each of the two legs of their semi-final against Watford.

But Liverpool's often drab league displays have prompted fears on Merseyside that Gerrard may decide to look elsewhere for the chance to challenge for the game's top honours.

Real Madrid have been linked with the England midfielder, and Gerrard admits his future will be given due consideration at the end of the season.

"I'm not really thinking about my future at the moment," he said on BBC1.

"I'll sit down at the end of the season and assess my future."

Gerrard turned down the chance of a move to Chelsea last summer, returning from Euro 2004 to commit his future to Liverpool, despite conceding his head had been turned by the attention.

He recognised that he would be coveted by the very best clubs on the continent if there was any indication of his being prepared to leave Liverpool.

Last June, he admitted it was a decision which came from his heart to stay with the 18-time league champions.

His head may prompt a future move, but speaking at half-time during Manchester United's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough this evening, Gerrard was non-committal.

"Of course it's flattering," he said. "There are some top clubs around Europe showing interest, but I'm at a top club at the moment.

"I've got a chance of lifting a cup."

JANUARY 20
Gerrard optimistic about 2006

Sporting Life

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard believes England can win the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Since shaking off the injury problems which blighted his early career, Gerrard has fulfilled his potential to become arguably the most important cog in Sven-Goran Eriksson's England wheel.

And the roving midfielder believes world football's nearly-men can go all the way next year.

Gerrard told Five's 'John Barnes' Football Night' - being broadcast on Thursday night: "I'm confident we can. We've definitely got the players to do so but it's a very difficult tournament to win.

"It's really tough as we're playing against some fantastic teams across the world but if we've got everyone fit and everyone clicks and performs in that short four or five weeks that you are together I think we can have a real go at it."

Looking back to Euro 2004, the midfielder continued: "I think we weren't good enough in the quarter-final match (against Portugal).

"I think the heat played a part but I wouldn't like to use that just as the single excuse.

"We did everything right up to the quarter-final and we went into it and gave it our best shot, but I don't think we were good enough as a team to get through.

"Portugal were the hosts and they played well on the night, and unfortunately we lost out on a penalty shoot-out.

"The lads were disappointed with how we played in that last-eight game because we feel as if we could've done a lot better."

Despite his vast experience in the game Gerrard has never represented England in a World Cup, missing the 2002 tournament in South Korea and Japan through injury.

He explained: "It hurt really bad - probably one of the lows of my career, being injured for that.

"I was desperate to go. I've had a bit of a bad time with injuries as far as the international set-up is concerned and I'd like to put that right.

"I was a bit hot and cold in Portugal too, so I'm looking to make amends in 2006."

Gerrard was keen to sing the praises of Eriksson, who kept the Liverpudlian involved in the England set-up despite his injury problems.

The midfielder, a target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, recalled: "Every time I missed the squad or turned up with an injury, he was desperate for me to play and be fit.

"As a player, when you're out injured and you're down and you feel as if you're left out you want the manager to keep you involved and let you know that you're still wanted - and that's what he did."

JANUARY 14
Gerrard named Player Of The Month

Sporting Life

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has been named Barclays Premiership player of the month for December.

The England midfielder returned from a broken metatarsal bone before Christmas and made a massive impact immediately, guiding the Reds to fifth in the table.

The accolade has been handed to Gerrard by the Barclays Awards Panel, consisting of representatives from governing bodies, the media and supporters.

Nic Gault, from the panel, said: "December has been a phenomenal month for Steven Gerrard, particularly when you bear in mind the severity of the injury he has recovered from.

"His inspirational presence on the pitch has been sorely missed by Liverpool. Having him back on top form can only be a good thing for the Reds and England, as on his day he is one of the best midfielders in the world."

DECEMBER 23
Gerrard's U-turn on leaving Liverpool

By William Johnson and Rob Stewart - Daily Telegraph

Steven Gerrard last night backtracked on his recent threat to quit Liverpool at the end of the season by declaring an intention to see out the remaining 2½ years of his Anfield contract.

Gerrard, a target for Chelsea and other trophy-chasing clubs, insisted he had no intention of leaving Merseyside despite issuing the clearest of warnings before this month's Champions League match against Olympiakos that he was not prepared to wait indefinitely for a Liverpool resurgence.

The Liverpool captain was speaking as he entered his club's supporters player of the year dinner. He was asked about his "situation" at the club and replied: "There is no situation.

"I am signed here for this season and another two. There is a lot of speculation in the papers, but that is not down to me. It just seems to happen every time the transfer window opens."

Asked on Sky Sports whether he could categorically tell Liverpool fans that he was happy to stay at the club and would be for some time to come he answered: "Yes."

Only two weeks ago Gerrard had voluntarily told reporters as he prepared for the decisive qualifying match with Olympiakos which he settled in his team's favour with a dramatic late strike: "Time is not on my side.

"I reckon I have five or six good years left in me and I can't afford to wait around for three or four of them waiting for the upturn in fortunes here. I want to have a big family by the time I retire and I want to show my medals to my children.

"If I believe the team are moving forward this season then I won't be going anywhere but if not then I will have to have a look at the situation in the summer."

Rafael Benitez, Liverpool's manager, had clearly been embarrassed by that stark message from his captain and suggested afterwards that Gerrard was putting pressure on himself and his colleagues by saying such things. Gerrard's more positive response last night may be his way of appeasing his Spanish manager.

DECEMBER 16
Gerrard ponders price of loyalty

By Bill Barclay - Reuters

One of soccer's few remaining 'monogamists', Steven Gerrard is having his fidelity to under-performing Liverpool tested like never before.

January's transfer window is sure to revive speculation that the all-action midfielder will leave the team he captains.

Six months ago Gerrard agonised over whether to join Roman Abramovich's rouble-fuelled revolution at Chelsea, eventually opting to stay at Liverpool because Anfield felt like home.

Having been given reassurances that the club's ambitions matched his own, the midfielder then watched England striker Michael Owen leave Anfield for Real Madrid.

Liverpool's league challenge duly got off to a stumbling start, a familiar scenario for a club that holds the record of 18 title wins but has not won one since 1990.

The Anfield air has been soured by the revival of a groundshare plan with city rivals Everton that is widely opposed by both clubs' fans, and by Everton's astonishing rise to second in the table behind Chelsea.

A battle for control of the Liverpool boardroom has compounded uncertainty and Gerrard's frustration boiled over on the eve of their make-or-break Champions League clash with Olympiakos Piraeus on December 8.

"This is not just about Steven Gerrard in the summer or January," the 24-year-old player said.

"I want to play Champions League football. It's as simple as that."

The next day he scored an astounding goal to keep his side in the competition, his exquisitely struck half-volley in the dying minutes a coup de theatre to rival any at Anfield.

It was a perfect illustration of Gerrard's ability to single-handedly change the outcome of a game and his importance to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez and the club's chances of joining Chelsea in breaking the Manchester United/Arsenal hegemony.

Gerrard has matured into England's most complete midfielder -- he tackles hard, his distribution is superb and he scores goals regularly. Only Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Arsenal's Patrick Vieira, a World Cup-winner with France, are of a similar stature in the Premier League.

Gerrard was just eight when a scout first spotted his potential and he learned his trade at Liverpool's soccer academy. He loves the northern city where he was brought up and the club he joined as a trainee in February 1998.

"I've got absolutely no intention of ever going to play at another club," he told an interviewer in April 2002.

Life was pretty good at that time. Liverpool had won the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup the previous season, they were to finish second in the Premier League and Gerrard was preparing for the 2002 World Cup.

However, the injury-plagued player missed the tournament because of surgery on a groin problem and he struggled to find his form in the following campaign.

Made captain in 2003/4, Gerrard responded with probably his best season, piloting Liverpool to fourth spot in the league and linking superbly with Owen.

As the season drew to a close, the admiration of Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson, who must one day replace his captain and midfield warhorse Roy Keane, spilled over.

"He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but Gerrard does more," Ferguson told the Sunday Times.

"To me, Gerrard is Keane. He is where Keane was when Roy came to us in 1993. Everywhere the ball is, he is there."

The departure in August of Owen, also seemingly wedded to Liverpool for life, came as a severe shock to Gerrard who six weeks earlier had turned down Chelsea at the last minute.

Gerrard admitted he had been unhappy with Liverpool's performance for the previous two seasons but, after talking with his family, he decided to stick with his hometown team.

However, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is not alone in his belief that Gerrard will end up at Stamford Bridge, especially if Liverpool once again fail to claim a trophy this season.

"Chelsea will sooner or later take who they want," said the Frenchman.

Thor Zakariassen ©