One of the biggest recurring myths about Liverpool FC is that the team struggles without Steven Gerrard in the side. The tabloid media has been notorious in the past for perpetuating this blatantly false myth, the result of which is many people - home fans included - actually believe that Liverpool FC is a one-man team. Well, with Gerrard currently injured, and Liverpool needing wins to push up the table, it's time to set the record straight.
It goes without saying that Gerrard is hugely important to Liverpool, and we would all prefer to have him in the side than not; however, when his absence is forced by injury, history proves that the club survives pretty well without him.
To illustrate this, I've examined every competitive game Gerrard has missed since the 2000-2001 season.
LFC without Steven Gerrard: 2000/01 - 26 November 2010
As you can see, these results are very encouraging:
* Unbeaten in almost 8 out of 10 games without Gerrard in the side.
* Almost 2 goals per game scored
* Less than 1 goal per game conceded
* Unbeaten in 77% of games overall
I don't dispute that Gerrard is important to the side - of course he is - but as the figures above prove, Liverpool can survive without him and have done so many times in the past.
Let's hope the club's good form without Gerrard continues this weekend against Spurs.
Below is a list of every game Liverpool have played without Gerrard since the 2000-2001 season:
2010-11
FK Rabotnicki 2-0
Trabzonspor 1-0
Trabzonspor 2-1
Steaua Bucharest 4-1
Northampton 2-2 (Lost on Penalties)
Utrecht 0-0
Napoli 0-0
West Ham 3-0
2009-10
Sunderland 0-1
Man United 2-0
Arsenal 1-2
Fulham 1-3
Lyon 1-1
Stoke 1-1
Tottenham 2-0
2008-09
Aston Villa 0-0
Man United 2-1(sub)
Crewe 2-1
Spurs 2-4
Fulham 0-0
Portsmouth 3-2
Man City 1-1
Blackburn 4-0
Chelsea 4-4
Arsenal 4-4
Hull 1-3
PL 11 W5 D5 L1
2007-08
Sunderland 2-0
Toulouse 4-0
Derby 6-0
Chelsea 0-2
Luton 1-1
Fulham 2-0
PL 6 W4 D1 L1
2006-2007
Bordeaux 1-0
Reading 4-3
Birmingham 1-0
Galatasaray 2-3
Portsmouth 1-2
PL 5 W3 L2
2005-06
CSKA Sofia 0-1
CSKA Moscow 2-1
Blackburn 1-0
Anderlecht 1-0
Fulham 0-2
Charlton 0-2
WBA 2-0
Blackburn 1-0
West Ham – 2.1
PL 9 W6 L3
2004-05
Norwich 3-0
Olympiacos 0-1
Chelsea 0-1
Fulham 4-2
Deportivo 0-0
Charlton 2-0
Millwall 3-0
Blackburn 2-2
Deportivo 1-0
Birmingham 0-1
Tottenham 1-1
Burnley 0-1
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1
Juventus 0-0
Aston Villa 2-1
PL 15 W7 D4 L4
2003-04
Chelsea 1-2
Yeovil 2-0
Chelsea 1-0
Villa 1-0
Tottenham 1-2
PL 5 W3 L2
2002-03
Leeds 1-0
Spartak Moscow 3-1
Crystal Palace 0-2
Middlesbrough 1-1
Birmingham 1-2
PL 5 W2 D1 L2
2001-02
Man United 2-1
West Ham 2-1
Tottenham 1-0
Newcastle 2-0
Grimsby 1-2
Boavista 1-1
Leicester 1-0
Fulham 2-0
Newcastle 3-0
Charlton 2-0
Tottenham 0-1
PL 11 W8 D1 L2
2000-2001
Arsenal 0-2
Rapid Bucharest 1-0
Derby 4-0
Slovan Liberic 1-0
Chelsea 2-1
Stoke 8-0
Leeds 2-0
Roma 2-0
Man City 4-2
Roma 0-1
Derby 1-1
Everton 3-2
Coventry 2-0
PL 13 W10 D1 L2
Jaimie Kanwar
It goes without saying that Gerrard is hugely important to Liverpool, and we would all prefer to have him in the side than not; however, when his absence is forced by injury, history proves that the club survives pretty well without him.
To illustrate this, I've examined every competitive game Gerrard has missed since the 2000-2001 season.
LFC without Steven Gerrard: 2000/01 - 26 November 2010
As you can see, these results are very encouraging:
* Unbeaten in almost 8 out of 10 games without Gerrard in the side.
* Almost 2 goals per game scored
* Less than 1 goal per game conceded
* Unbeaten in 77% of games overall
I don't dispute that Gerrard is important to the side - of course he is - but as the figures above prove, Liverpool can survive without him and have done so many times in the past.
Let's hope the club's good form without Gerrard continues this weekend against Spurs.
Below is a list of every game Liverpool have played without Gerrard since the 2000-2001 season:
2010-11
FK Rabotnicki 2-0
Trabzonspor 1-0
Trabzonspor 2-1
Steaua Bucharest 4-1
Northampton 2-2 (Lost on Penalties)
Utrecht 0-0
Napoli 0-0
West Ham 3-0
2009-10
Sunderland 0-1
Man United 2-0
Arsenal 1-2
Fulham 1-3
Lyon 1-1
Stoke 1-1
Tottenham 2-0
2008-09
Aston Villa 0-0
Man United 2-1(sub)
Crewe 2-1
Spurs 2-4
Fulham 0-0
Portsmouth 3-2
Man City 1-1
Blackburn 4-0
Chelsea 4-4
Arsenal 4-4
Hull 1-3
PL 11 W5 D5 L1
2007-08
Sunderland 2-0
Toulouse 4-0
Derby 6-0
Chelsea 0-2
Luton 1-1
Fulham 2-0
PL 6 W4 D1 L1
2006-2007
Bordeaux 1-0
Reading 4-3
Birmingham 1-0
Galatasaray 2-3
Portsmouth 1-2
PL 5 W3 L2
2005-06
CSKA Sofia 0-1
CSKA Moscow 2-1
Blackburn 1-0
Anderlecht 1-0
Fulham 0-2
Charlton 0-2
WBA 2-0
Blackburn 1-0
West Ham – 2.1
PL 9 W6 L3
2004-05
Norwich 3-0
Olympiacos 0-1
Chelsea 0-1
Fulham 4-2
Deportivo 0-0
Charlton 2-0
Millwall 3-0
Blackburn 2-2
Deportivo 1-0
Birmingham 0-1
Tottenham 1-1
Burnley 0-1
Bayer Leverkusen 3-1
Juventus 0-0
Aston Villa 2-1
PL 15 W7 D4 L4
2003-04
Chelsea 1-2
Yeovil 2-0
Chelsea 1-0
Villa 1-0
Tottenham 1-2
PL 5 W3 L2
2002-03
Leeds 1-0
Spartak Moscow 3-1
Crystal Palace 0-2
Middlesbrough 1-1
Birmingham 1-2
PL 5 W2 D1 L2
2001-02
Man United 2-1
West Ham 2-1
Tottenham 1-0
Newcastle 2-0
Grimsby 1-2
Boavista 1-1
Leicester 1-0
Fulham 2-0
Newcastle 3-0
Charlton 2-0
Tottenham 0-1
PL 11 W8 D1 L2
2000-2001
Arsenal 0-2
Rapid Bucharest 1-0
Derby 4-0
Slovan Liberic 1-0
Chelsea 2-1
Stoke 8-0
Leeds 2-0
Roma 2-0
Man City 4-2
Roma 0-1
Derby 1-1
Everton 3-2
Coventry 2-0
PL 13 W10 D1 L2
Jaimie Kanwar
great figures these, ive been arguing the same for a long time, up untill the 08-09 season i have argued endlessly that carra was far more important to the team than gerrard was (not anymore tho as his legs are going) but this proves what ive long thought
ReplyDeleteI ENTIRELY AGREE WITH YOU JAIMIE, AND HERE ARE MY THOUGHTS:
ReplyDelete1. THE MAJORITY OF THE GAMES HE MISSED WERE UNDER RAFA BENITEZ, WHO STILL MANAGED A SIMILAR WIN % WITHOUT THE CLUBS BEST PLAYER AND CAPTAIN. SO HE MUST BE A GOOD MANAGER.
2. THE ONLY REASON WE ARE TALKING ABOUT MISSING STEVEN GERRARD IS BECAUSE RAFA GOT THE BEST OUT OF HIM BY PLAYING HIM IN VARIOUS ATTACKING ROLES, TO ASTONISHING "EFFECT". WE WOULDN'T BE MISSING THE OVER AGGRESSIVE, UNDER DISCIPLINED, OCASSIONAL GOALSCORER THAT WE HAD UNDER HOULLIER.
3. GERRARD HAS MISSED ONE LEAGUE GAME THIS SEASON ACCORDING TO THIS ARTICLE, YET WE ARE IN 9TH PLACE. WE HAVE A WIN% *SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE* THAN THE PREVIOUS 2 SEASONS, EVEN THOUGH MR. HODGSON HAS HAD TWO OF THE 5 BEST PLAYERS IN THE WORLD AVAILABLE FOR MOST OF THE TIME. WHY, WHEN 95% OF LIVERPOOL FANS CAN SEE THAT HE IS PERFORMING AS INEPTLY AS HE HAS DONE THROUGHOUT HIS 34 YEAR CAREER, DO YOU STILL DESPERATELY TRY AND DEFEND HIM?
4. IS IT BECAUSE YOU'RE STILL CLINGING TO THE SEF-GENERATED MYTH THAT RAFA RUINED US?
We should sell him and build a team around Poulsen. :'(
ReplyDelete= Don't build a team around a player struggling for fitness and form.
ReplyDeleteGood article. Certain games like the 2 cup finals of '05 and '06 help these myths grow I think but sometimes the other players step up when hes not around- Spurs at home last season being a prime example.
ReplyDeleteOf course Gerrard is still our most influential player and one of the best we've ever had but we don't rely on him as much as the press like to make out.
Igor Biscan was the starkest example I can remember of a player that seemed intimidated by playing with Gerrard - don't get me wrong, he was never a world-beater but he looked a damn sight better when Stevie was injured or rested than he ever did playing alongside him. Gerrard is a legend but he has dominated the team for a long time and his mood/form has seemed to dictate the mood/form of the team.. without him we have often been more of a 'team' and shown more balance. Lucas is another that has only recently got to grips with playing with Stevie and previously only ever looked half-decent when SG was out of the team.
ReplyDeletesome people say Gerrard is getting old and it s not what he used be at 31 but for what he has done for the club and present we should always appreciate his loyalty to the club. I actually think that so far this season the games he had played he had been superb, he mighnt not ran all game but he has been more effective.
ReplyDeletewe may produce stats that demostrate we got result without him in the past but I know that if we play a big game or final I want Gerrard to be fit and play in that game for us. he is a match winner and we had very few of them in our team.
Dont get over yourself because we won agaisnt westham without Gerrard, in long term liverpool needs Gerrard if we want to finsih to four.
= I dont know what im doing *DONT_KNOW*
ReplyDeleteJaimie,
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest that Gerrard was far less important to us in his early years, so the inclusion of mostly positive results from the 2000/01 and 2001/02 is skewing the result.
With those seasons removed, for instance, our win percentage becomes 37/71=52%, and our loss percentage 22/71=31%
Out of context these figures also mean very little. If, for example, we're on a good run of form and Gerrard is lost through injury, we're more likely to continue our good form. Similarly if we're on a poor run and Gerrard is lost, we're more likely to remain poor.
We're not in good form currently, and the lack of Gerrard against a team on the up, like Tottenham, is likely to cost us.
Kraken
I think what everybody realises is under Rafa everybody had a specific job.So when one cog out of 11 was missing then 9% of the team would change.Under Rafa sometimes Gerrard played on the right so to replace this was not a big as deal as replacing say Torres with Ngog.I remember Gerrards debut at right back against Leeds when he was up against Harry Kewell.Gerrard was versatile and consequently used in this way,especially under Rafa the tactical genius would deploy Gerrard in all sorts of positions to target the weakness of the opposition and the strength of LFC.Because of Rafas great midfield signings Sissoko,Alonso,Mascherrano and Rafas great tactical nouse and understanding of the opposition players, the absence of Gerrard under Rafa was minimal which showed what a great coach he was.Dont forget last season no Torres,Gerrard away for half of season injured,Masch head in bits because of broken promises and no Alonso(due to his greed at going to R Madrid before the tax laws changed)Rafa kept us in contention for fourth all season and got to a european semifinal.One more thing you say he alienated Riise,this is complete rubbish,in one interview with the echo guy the interviewer reported during the interview ,Rafa got a text of Riise and rafa was full of praise for him
ReplyDelete= I also enjoy having the hair of Emily Bishop :)
ReplyDeleteNice article. But I think that in all the games, you should mention the fact that whether it is a home or away fixture. That will further enhance this analysis of how our team plays without Captain Fantastic.
ReplyDeleteNot really. Certain egregious people will help "this" myth grow, like they have done with every other myth on this website.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most simple analyses I've ever read, and as usual it will appeal to simple minds. It is like trying to claim that the Labour Party didn't miss Tony Blair when he left, when you are a known anti-Brownite and suspected Tory.
The fact is that Houllier didn't miss Gerrard as much because he didn't get as much out of him in the first place. This has a levelling effect on the overall 10 years. Do the analysis yourself, see how much we missed him under Rafa. See how influential he was against Olympiakos after we'd had such a bad start. See how influential he was in Istanbul when Hamman came on and freed him up.
The following 2 seasons he doesn't miss a single big game and we get 82 points, and reach another CL final.
Then in 08/09, with better players around him and in a title challenge, he missed a string of tough games that end in draws, two goals in two of those games would have made us champions.
Then of course last season he was missing during a crucial period from Sunderland (beachball) Arsenal, Fulham (2 red cards) Lyon etc that ruined the season and effectively got Rafa the sack. This wasn't all down to Gerrard, but even with so many other players missing we were getting draws when Stevie could have pulled something out the bag. In his advanced role. Under Rafa.
And this is before we even mention the times he only played a certain amount of the game, or wasn't fit, or was carrying an injury.
And now what do we have? We have him playing deeper under Roy, like everybody else, and he has played most of the games, but Roy still can't get a decent run going. We are back to the Houllier days, but on acid.
We miss Gerrard. We miss him and several others playing high up the pitch,keeping the ball, passing it, scoring 2 or 3 goals dominating teams, winning games, and challenging for trophies.
Not trying to out-defend the opposition and battle for 8th place.
Not really. Certain egregious people will help "this" myth grow, like they have done with every other myth on this website.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of the most simple analyses I've ever read, and as usual it will appeal to simple minds. It is like trying to claim that the Labour Party didn't miss Tony Blair when he left, when you are a known anti-Brownite and suspected Tory.
The fact is that Houllier didn't miss Gerrard as much because he didn't get as much out of him in the first place. This has a levelling effect on the overall 10 years. Do the analysis yourself, see how much we missed him under Rafa. See how influential he was against Olympiakos after we'd had such a bad start. See how influential he was in Istanbul when Hamman came on and freed him up.
The following 2 seasons he doesn't miss a single big game and we get 82 points, and reach another CL final.
Then in 08/09, with better players around him and in a title challenge, he missed a string of tough games that end in draws, two goals in two of those games would have made us champions.
Then of course last season he was missing during a crucial period from Sunderland (beachball) Arsenal, Fulham (2 red cards) Lyon etc that ruined the season and effectively got Rafa the sack. This wasn't all down to Gerrard, but even with so many other players missing we were getting draws when Stevie could have pulled something out the bag. In his advanced role. Under Rafa.
And this is before we even mention the times he only played a certain amount of the game, or wasn't fit, or was carrying an injury.
And now what do we have? We have him playing deeper under Roy, like everybody else, and he has played most of the games, but Roy still can't get a decent run going. We are back to the Houllier days, but on acid.
We miss Gerrard. We miss him and several others playing high up the pitch,keeping the ball, passing it, scoring 2 or 3 goals dominating teams, winning games, and challenging for trophies.
Not trying to out-defend the opposition and battle for 8th place.
I remember some similar examination some years ago. The stats back then, I think it was two seasons ago, proved that we struggled more when Alonso was missing rather than Gerrard AND Torres. And that was in one of those season some people claim Alonso wasn't playing particular well.
ReplyDeleteJamie you talk about agenda driven.......you have on numerous occasions picked out when rafa has critised a player in the media but the minute hodgson did it you went behind your shell saying you cant judge a manager after four months.....like you say jamie facts are facts.
ReplyDeleteFirsly please dont come out with your predictable counter argument saying :
1) I m taking things out of context (because it oks for you to manipulate facts to suit your agenda but heaven forbid someone else do it) because this can be proved by your numerous articles against benetiz refering to babel gerrard and torres.
2) I m judging the manager first year he cant do no wrong because hes been in the job only four months. Well four months or two years critising a player in public has a negative effect so what difference does it make how long the managers been in charge.
3) The player been critised is Glen Johnson and we know you dont rate him but the simple facts is this he is Englands right back and first choice right back for liverpool when fit so even if manager rates him or not it is in the managers best interest to get the best out of him.
I think the stats are skewed a bit. In the early part of the millenium Gerrard wasn't Captain and wasn't as influential in a game. As the team slowly became centred around him and he took up the armband then his infuence has increased year on year.
ReplyDeleteI still think we can win without Gerrard but away from home with Hodgson as manager then we have no chance. No doubt because Gerrard is injured Hodgson will use it as an excuse to go with the 8-1-1 formation against Spurs and of course we will end up with another away loss.
This man was brought up in liverpool and is a 100% supporter of liverpool. He is without doubt one of the best, if not the best talet this club has ever produced throught the youth system, he has endured different managers, he has routinely dismissed other clubs for liverpool and will remain at liverpool. Steven Gerrard could have left this cub and had a lot more league trophies from an array of world class leagues. He is a supporter of liverpool, and loves liverpool. Unless you lace your boots up and threaten his place in the team be fuckin quiet. This man is the heart and soul of liverpool FC and never you forget it!!!!
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I am writing from Bulgaria and considering it is almost 2.00 am I might be a few drinks ahead of most readers. Certainly I do not mean any disrespect to Jamie and his team but simply need to justify my passionate response to the above review.
ReplyDeleteI rely on statistical reports very often in my everyday life and firmly believe in their rightful guidance. However if you bring your memories back to the two consecutive games we played against Chelsea and Arsenal in 2008-09 you will realize how important Steven is to the club. Remembering the great form we showed on the field at the time and relishing the never fading passion and amazing skill Gerrard's presence adds to the team, I can't stop thinking that if he was available we would have won the league...
Its a good article. I'm glad you acknowledge his importance in the team, but it is true Liverpool are certainly not a one or even two man team. This is an argument I've had countless times with supporters of other teams. Whilst its flattering in one way that other supporters acknowledge our captain's quality so much, its also actually very insulting to the rest of many fantastic players we have had. SG himself get embarrased when journalists insinuate that during interviews.
ReplyDeleteYEWO, you make a good point about other players stepping up to...i remember that game... a very pertinant example!! ANTEATER thats an interetesting thought too...i have a vague recollection of reading some info that corroborated your theory,..it would be nice to go back and take a look at those stats.
SG will always be an LFC legend, and some his talismanic performances, especially during cup finals will be remembered for many a year to come. His passion for LFC on and off the pitch has been cited by many to be inspirational, which is a massive compliment. However as i'm sure the man himself would be quick to point out, he is part of a team.
Obviously from a statistically point of view I can see why you have included SG's earlier years, but I think Kraken may have a point. However the overall picture is clear though....although we will miss him....we can get results without him...and against big teams!
Its a good article. I'm glad you acknowledge his importance in the team, but it is true Liverpool are certainly not a one or even two man team. This is an argument I've had countless times with supporters of other teams. Whilst its flattering in one way that other fans acknowledge our captain's quality so much, its also actually very insulting to the rest of many fantastic players we have had. SG himself gets embarrased when journalists sometimes uneccesarily over emphasise his importance during team performances.
ReplyDeleteYEWO, you make a good point about other players stepping up to...i remember that game... a very pertinant example!! ANTEATER thats an interetesting thought re: alonso ...i have a vague recollection of reading some info that corroborated your theory,..it would be nice to go back and take a look at those stats.
SG will always be an LFC legend, and some his talismanic performances, especially during some big games in our recent history will be remembered for many a year to come. His passion for LFC on and off the pitch has been cited by many to be inspirational, which is a massive compliment. However as i'm sure the man himself would be quick to point out, he is part of a team.
Obviously from a statistically point of view I can see why you have included SG's earlier years, but I think Kraken may have a point. However the overall picture is clear though....although we will miss him....we can get results without him...and against big teams!
Hi. This article demonstrates a complete lack of statistical knowledge by the author. Being a statistician, it is meaningless to pull up the win % and yet have nothing to compare against. In other words, you can only make a meaningful conclusion whether the team is better/worse/equivocal with/without gerrard by comparing the above stats with the stats WHEN GERRARD IS PLAYING (over the same period for the past 10 years not the last 2).
ReplyDeleteSaying that, i think the author has done a great job to highlight the fact that the team is quite alright without Stevie and it probably aint easy to pull out all those match scores either. Would love to see a similar table showing the stats of how we perform with gerrard in the team.
Also, stats tend to generalize, i dun think it accounts very well for outliers epitomised by stevie's contributions in the istanbul and fa cup finals. those wins would still be one "win" but of cos the significance is infinitely more compared to say a league cup 3rd round win over yorkshire. (we dun do well in league cup yes i know.)
Yeah we have managed without Gerrard at times but without him being at the club for such a long time we would be nowhere. He is our most important player, the captian and IMO by far the best English player out there.
ReplyDeleteIf we had to put him up for sale, ever freaking big club out there will be after him. Luckily IMO he will finish his career as a Red. Stevie is a RED through and through and he has unfinished business at LFC and that is winning the EPL.
YNWA
What does this have to do with Gerrard? Nothing. Please post your comments on the relevant thread.
ReplyDeleteDid I not say in the article that Gerrard is important to the club? I have not suggested in the slightest that he isn't. That's not the point of what I wrote.
ReplyDeleteSomeone finally written something that make sense...
ReplyDeletewhat is the point of what you wrote
ReplyDeleteHungary. 'nuff said.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, and Napoli. Liverpool were doing just fine before he came in.
ReplyDeleteJamie all i can say is most people i know support clubs other than Liverpool and nobody i know who knows anything about football would deny he is the heart and soul of that side.
ReplyDeleteThere is a saying in sport though and that is 1 man doesn't make a team but this man certainly helps.
I look at the champions league final in Istambul from time to time and just marvel at it the cream certainly does rise to the top in the big ones.
Gerard has been consistently great in the big games and ranks as one of the best players this decade.
As I've said before, Liverpool's strength is Liverpool's weakness. I do think that some players have problems showing their best with Gerrard in the team. At times, he does not look supportive of his less talented team mates or those that are not in the inner circle. His body language with players other than Torres, Kuyt and Carragher is not the same as it is with those three. His bigging up of Joe Cole was odd, as you don't hear it with other players and I'm sure that Liverpool have had other players who show skill in training. More importantly, he demands the ball at all times, sometimes when others are in better positions and, as I recall Wenger saying once, if players make a run and never receive the ball, they stop making those runs. The problem with all the play going through him is that if teams manage to stop him, they stop the team. He's pulled the team out of it many times but there have also been times, such as Essien marking him out of the champions league game, where the team does not have a plan b when he is shackled. The second leg, the 4-4 draw, was better and if there was anything positive from the Tottenham loss last weekend, it was the partnership between Lucas and Meireles. Lucas, in particular, looks a better player when Gerrard is not in the team. The job, for any manager, is to find a way to integrate all the players into the team properly. We managed it when Alonso was here and I hope Meireles will keep a central position and Gerrard plays further up the pitch again, as I think that is his best position.
ReplyDelete