Would Selling Steven Gerrard Help or Hinder Liverpool?

When Steven Gerrard was dropped from Liverpool’s starting XI for last week’s 1-0 victory over Stoke City at Anfield, many would be forgiven for thinking it was the beginning of the end for the skipper and his days at Liverpool.

Until that point, despite reaching 34 years old and going through questionable form, Gerrard had started every Premier League game for the Reds this season. Undroppable, it seemed.

With the game against Stoke a stale 0-0, Gerrard came on and Liverpool found a winner through Glen Johnson’s brave header with five minutes to go.

Rui Vieira/Associated Press

A more fresh and invigorated Gerrard then produced his best performance of the season, starting and scoring Liverpool’s second in their 3-1 victory at Leicester City three days later. 

Against Sunderland on Saturday, Liverpool arguably only woke up when Gerrard was introduced on 67 minutes. Within minutes he had sprayed a splitting pass from the halfway line to Philippe Coutinho on the right wing, immediately becoming the catalyst and inspiration for the Reds to press higher up the pitch. Alas, no late winner was found this time.

His presence simply opens gaps for Liverpool.

Indeed, this last week has been an insight into life without Gerrard at Liverpool—something which obviously troubled Brendan Rodgers in his post-match interview after the goalless draw at home to Sunderland. 

BBC Sport quoted Rodgers as saying: 

"

We can't always rely on him. It can't be up to him every single game to be the catalyst. 

His talent is world class but that contribution has to come around the team.

[..]

It is very hard to replace that quality, but that is something we will need.

He was excellent when he came on and of course he plays on Tuesday. He still has that talent, he has world-class ability and it is me looking to manage that.

We have a big month ahead. Until the new year there are big games and the management of Steven is fine, there is no problem with that.

"

No doubt there continues to be an over-reliance on Gerrard. His ability to influence a game has been at the core of the club for the best part of two decades.

Whether Gerrard leaves Liverpool at the end of this season or next, his playing time must rapidly reduce and the team must move on without him.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Liverpool find themselves in a similar position to that which they found themselves in with Luis Suarez—just how do you replace such a unique talent in Gerrard?

Many may look to Liverpool going into the transfer market to sign a defensive midfielder as Gerrard’s replacement—but the former England captain played most of his career in a much more advanced role.

Where Gerrard played his best football, spearheading the midfield attack and forming formidable partnerships with the likes of Fernando Torres and Suarez up front, Liverpool have an abundance of talent already that is just not clicking this season.

Having the ammunition of Raheem Sterling, Coutinho and Adam Lallana, not to mention Lazar Markovic and a more advanced Jordan Henderson would suggest Liverpool already have that role covered—but it simply doesn’t work without Gerrard.

Gerrard is the pivotal brick in Liverpool’s Jenga tower—take him out and the tower topples.

Replacing Gerrard is not clean cut. It will require a complete reshape of that midfield. When one component expires, the mechanics of a machine must be redesigned.

Furthermore, Liverpool’s lack of leadership with or without Gerrard this season gives more cause for concern. 

But is it Gerrard’s presence at Liverpool that is holding them back? Does Gerrard being at the club prevent it from finding a future without him?

Perhaps Rodgers’ hand needs to be forced into remoulding Liverpool into the post-Gerrard era—and that simply means the Reds’ "Captain Fantastic" leaving—as he's too influential a figure to stay and be part of the rebuilding himself.

What’s it to be, does selling Gerrard help or hinder Liverpool?