Gerrard shows just how far he’s fallen and what Liverpool will be missing

Steven Gerrard emphatically left his mark on his final competitive match against fierce rivals Manchester United, literally and figuratively. His vitriolic stamp on Ander Herrera just 38 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute could at best be described as a momentary loss of composure; at worst it was an idiotic, archaic attempt to assert authority in a midfield battle that Liverpool were losing.

Whatever the reason, Gerrard’s actions effectively put the game out of Liverpool’s reach and demonstrated just how out of touch he has become with current Premier League football, both physically and mentally.

Gerrard’s actions appeared to influence Mario Balotelli and Martin Skirtl, both of whom were guilty of nasty challenges on Phil Jones and David De Gea respectively. Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson also delivered robust tackles that on other days could have earned cautions.

Indeed, Balotelli may owe one Liverpool fan a large debt of gratitude. After a touchline tussle with Chris Smalling, where both players ended up against the advertising boards, Balotelli was held back from confronting Smalling by a quick-thinking supporter who sensed the red mist descending.

The result leaves Liverpool in fifth place in the Premier League, five points behind United and the final Champions League place, with just eight games left to play. It was Liverpool’s first Premier League defeat since December 14th, ironically also against United in the reverse fixture.

Gerrard will miss Liverpool’s next three matches - against Arsenal, Newcastle and Hull - thus providing the smallest of silver linings for his manager, Brendan Rodgers. Gerrard’s form has declined noticeably throughout the season, leaving Rodgers in the awkward position of having to bench Liverpool's captain. With Gerrard suspended there is no debating whether or not he should be in the starting line-up.

Image via itv.com