Liverpool's mini-injury crisis has gone from bad to worse this evening with the news that Steven Gerrard sustained yet another injury during the Reds' superb 3-2 victory over Spurs.
Brendan Rodgers subbed Gerrard off in the 68th minute, and according to NBCSN*, the skipper suffered a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury.
Gerrard - Recently hailed by Rodgers as 'outstanding' - is especially susceptible to this time of injury.
* Suffered a hamstring pull in November in the lead-up to the Champions League away game with Real Madrid.
* The same issue reoccured after Liverpool's recent 2-0 victory over West Ham.
* Overall, Gerrard has now suffered 6 hamstring injuries since December 2011.
It's hardly surprising that Gerrard is injured again. Spurs is his third game in seven days, which seems unwise considering the hamstring issue he picked up at the end of January.
Rodgers has basically overplayed Gerrard, and now he's paid the price. Granted, Lucas is injured, but Can is more than capable of covering, and despite Rodgers' insistence that he wouldn't move him out defence, he did exactly that against Spurs.
It's a big blow for Gerrard, but Liverpool can handle it the setback. These days, the captain's absence doesn't really impact the club in a negative way, and given the circumstances, he should be taken out of the firing line for a few games to allow him to fully recover.
* Confirmed during coverage of the game. Confirmation from someone else who also watched the NBCSN broadcast:
Author: Jaimie K
Brendan Rodgers subbed Gerrard off in the 68th minute, and according to NBCSN*, the skipper suffered a recurrence of his recent hamstring injury.
Gerrard - Recently hailed by Rodgers as 'outstanding' - is especially susceptible to this time of injury.
* Suffered a hamstring pull in November in the lead-up to the Champions League away game with Real Madrid.
* The same issue reoccured after Liverpool's recent 2-0 victory over West Ham.
* Overall, Gerrard has now suffered 6 hamstring injuries since December 2011.
It's hardly surprising that Gerrard is injured again. Spurs is his third game in seven days, which seems unwise considering the hamstring issue he picked up at the end of January.
Rodgers has basically overplayed Gerrard, and now he's paid the price. Granted, Lucas is injured, but Can is more than capable of covering, and despite Rodgers' insistence that he wouldn't move him out defence, he did exactly that against Spurs.
It's a big blow for Gerrard, but Liverpool can handle it the setback. These days, the captain's absence doesn't really impact the club in a negative way, and given the circumstances, he should be taken out of the firing line for a few games to allow him to fully recover.
* Confirmed during coverage of the game. Confirmation from someone else who also watched the NBCSN broadcast:
NBC reported Gerrard suffered hamstring injury. #LFC
— Donald (@DJG0407) February 10, 2015Author: Jaimie K
Its exciting for LFC that we can have regular starters getting injured and not be worried about where the replacement will come from. That is until Skrtel, Can or Hendo gets injured.
ReplyDeleteThe team will benefit from Gerrard not being in the starting line up. Hopefully Lovran can step up to allow our player of the moment Can to be pushed into the midfield.
ReplyDeleteWith Lallana coming back in. Lovren not doing anything bonkers and Sterling hopefully not out long this doesn't worry me in the slightest.
ReplyDeleteIn the league this season:
ReplyDeleteLallana - 16 appearances, 4 goals / 3 assists
Coutinho - 22 appearances, 2 goals / 4 assists
Just to show that stats don't always tell the whole story. The latter is being praised for his excellent season so far and has been rewarded with an improved contract and the former is supposedly "struggling" and "dissapointing", yet he has the better stats.
Mate it is only really on this site that Lallana is described that way. We know he isn't. Don't worry about it.
ReplyDeleteNot a big problem will prob miss cup game...but will still impact some games between now and end of season. Think Sterling not too serious injury, however he needs to get his head sorted and sign the new contract, otherwise think rodgers will just play Ibe/Marko ahead of him.
ReplyDeleteYep, the criticism of Lallana has been very harsh on this site.
ReplyDelete1 goal/assist every 2,2 games isn't bad at all for a player who's been hit by injury and hardly had a proper run in the team.
On my stream the commentators said something about Rodgers not being able to give a post match interview because he had to catch a flight. I wonder what that was all about?
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts exactly.
ReplyDeleteYeah he'll improve but like i said before, competition for places will push all our attacking players to play better....that's how it should work
ReplyDeleteGerrard should never have started his 3rd game in 11 days, Rodgers should have done from the start what he did when Gerrard went off, play Can in the DM role and Lovren at the back.
ReplyDeleteThe silver lining of Gerrard's injury, it stops this monotonous farewell tour and puts an end to watching a Liverpool hero play worse every week.
Great post 👌
ReplyDeleteHave we just unearthed the new Yaya Toure in Can?
ReplyDeleteI still think he can start certain games, but would probably suit being an impact sub playing higher up late in the last 30 mins of games when something needed.
ReplyDeleteThat was my thoughts exactly on one of this sites forums the other day. His surging runs forward from middle, hard to shrug off the ball and causes panic in oppo defence when they see him stride forward. Reckon he's got some goals in him too.
ReplyDeleteNo where near! Toure us a different class. His goals, his dominance & he wins games on his own. Can has potential but let's not go OTT.
ReplyDeleteThat's it, he surging runs straight through the center. The opposition just bounce off him. Maybe it's too early to say, but there is defo massive similarities
ReplyDeleteDown to the south coast to watch Southampton tomorrow night?
ReplyDeleteI think potentially that is the style of play Can should look to and probably wants to achieve. Everyone knows he is not at that level yet.
ReplyDeleteI would say it's a bit closer then "no where near". I'm not saying he's going to be as good. Toure must be over 30 and can is 21 but I do see potential. Your right tho, best not to go over the top too much.
ReplyDeleteYes think he should aim to be that type of player or even his compatriots Schweinsteiger/Ballack. Got to set the bar high.
ReplyDeleteMassive blow or massive redemption!!! I'm kind of glad. This will get Lovren on the pitch and moves Can to DM where he belongs to. This just help Rodgers to pick the team and organize it well cause he can't do it without help. I'm glad for this to happen
ReplyDeleteThe new Yaya Toure is just ridiculous. Yaya is world class, Can is a good player. Let's give Can a chance to develop.
ReplyDeleteTo be fair gerrard wasn't playing too bad tonight and in Rodgers defence it was hard to blame him for not wanting to change the back 3.glad to see Lovren back tho.done well when he came on.he gets a lot of slating but I still think he's going to come good.
ReplyDeletePersonally I think he's a bit more like Vidal, but basically yes... :P
ReplyDeleteWent to go watch the Parma - Chievo Verone game. But I don't see which player he could possibly be scouting.
ReplyDeleteVidal Sassoon?
ReplyDeleteThis is why I don't use twitter, gets you in all sorts of bother:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.joe.ie/sport/pic-irish-liverpool-fan-makes-balotelli-pledge-on-twitter-fails-to-honour-it-despite-close-to-10000-retweets/484474
Plus, even the Yaya didnt really hit it big until his mid/late 20s, Can has plenty of time, but the comparisons are definitely valid. Both can play either CB or as an all round midfielder, both make similar runs, both are strong, have cracking long rangers and.... they both... have 4 letters in their first names?...
ReplyDeleteThe injury to Lucas is a big problem.
ReplyDeleteBeats me.
ReplyDeleteGerrard not playing can only benefit the team.
ReplyDelete