Brendan Rodgers says Steven Gerrard doesn't have a right to a Liverpool starting place
Manager Brendan Rodgers insists Gerrard is still an “outstanding” player, but said he would not be swayed by reputation when picking his teams.
Gerrard has been absent since limping out of the win over Tottenham last month and is battling to face Blackburn in the FA Cup on Sunday as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.
Liverpool have beaten top four rivals Southampton and Manchester without their skipper, who will join LA Galaxy at the end of the season, and Rodgers accepts he has real competition for places.
Asked whether keeping Gerrard on the substitutes’ bench for the remainder of the season would be a problem, the Liverpool boss said: “It probably would be for other people but certainly not for me and it wouldn’t be for Steven.
“He is very much a team player and if he was on the bench because the team was in good form and playing well I think everyone respects that.
“There is no-one in the squad who has a God-given right to walk straight into the team.
Rodgers: An excellent performance [AMBIENT]
“I have shown my time here players who are performing well, irrespective of price or status, they play. Simple as that.”
Liverpool will assess Gerrard over the next 48-hours and Rodgers continued: “For me the most important thing in the first case is having Steven available.
“He is an outstanding player still and having him back makes us a better squad.
There is no-one in the squad who has a God-given right to walk straight into the team
Brendan Rodgers
“He is not fit yet so we just need to get him back and then if that (him sitting on the bench for the final three months of his Liverpool career) was the case you would have to ask Steven. Let’s see how the season pans out and then review it then.”
Rodgers also moved to play down comparisons between Gerrard and vice-captain Jordan Henderson.
“Jordan is totally different,” said Rodgers. “Steven is one of the best players of all time in the Premier League and I have said before there is no comparison.
“Jordan is a young guy who is a wonderful talent but a different type of player. Steven is one of the greats of the game, with all respect.
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“Someone said he would be irreplaceable but we will find different ways and different types of players but I think you should stop trying to put pressure on a young player like Jordan Henderson.
“Because he takes a corner and Steven Gerrard takes a corner it doesn’t mean he is the new Steven Gerrard.
“Because of he shoots from outside the box it doesn’t mean he is the new Steven Gerrard.
“He is Jordan Henderson and he is creating his own career and headlines.
“He is vice-captain and has a wonderful role model in Steven but I would ask every young player to follow Steven Gerard by example because he is an incredible professional and football player.”
