Europa League Draw Offers Redemption for Steven Gerrard on Istanbul Return

The draw for the last 32 of the Europa League sees Liverpool head to Istanbul to face Besiktas. It's a return to the Ataturk Stadium for captain Steven Gerrard—10 years after he lifted the Champions League there in the greatest moment of his career.

It's also a reunion with former Chelsea forward Demba Ba, whom Gerrard of course gifted that goal to last season.

Returning to the Ataturk, but facing Demba Ba, will be a mixture of feelings for the 34-year-old.

It does, of course, offer a chance of redemption (of sorts) for the skipper, possibly allowing him to finally shake off the effects of what is without a doubt the worst moment in his career—something which he appears to be still struggling with now.

Jon Super/Associated Press

Psychologically, Gerrard looks lost at present. The defeat at Old Trafford on Sunday saw a stark contrast to his last display against Manchester United, when he scored twice in a 3-0 win back in March.

As noted by Neil Ashton of The Daily Mail following the 3-0 reverse:

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What has happened to Gerrard? He is a tormented soul again, wishing away the season after Rodgers confirmed again that his team is in transition.

Even at the start of the second half, when you normally expect Gerrard to be showing some emotion and stirring his team-mates before kick-off, he was quiet and subdued.

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Following the title collapse, and England's miserable World Cup, Gerrard looks like a player who is struggling to cope. To cope with the realisation that he will never play in a World Cup again, and that his best chance to win the Premier League, finally, with Liverpool has gone.

Indeed, he now appears to be struggling with the realisation that his career as he has always known it is no longer the way of the future, as he's being rotated and used more sparingly. No longer is Gerrard's name guaranteed on the teamsheet.

Brendan Rodgers used Gerrard in a more orthodox midfield role against United on Sunday and again he was woefully exposed. He and Joe Allen were exploited by Wayne Rooney and Marouane Fellaini.

It would seem foolish if Rodgers were not to learn from the events of Old Trafford—where Liverpool's midfield was anonymous, incapable of the physical challenge and sloppy in possession—and played Gerrard in a midfield two again.

Europa League

The use of Gerrard will be one conundrum for Rodgers to solve, among many, as the season progresses.

Another will be how he prioritises the Europa League; should he see it as an excellent opportunity to qualify for next season's Champions League—with the winners being given a place for the first time?

Or should he use it as the lowest of his priorities and focus completely on achieving as high of a league finish as possible?

Winning the Europa League would be a major achievement in what has so far been Liverpool's worst campaign since 1964, per BBC Sport. Rodgers would win a trophy, the squad would achieve that winning feeling and they'd somehow rescue Champions League qualification.

Dmitry Lovetsky/Associated Press

But then, should Rodgers field a strong XI in the Europa League, fail to win the competition and drop crucial Premier League points as a result, it would spell disaster—and probably the end of his reign as Liverpool boss.

For instance, Liverpool's February fixtures are now Everton (a), Tottenham (h), Besiktas (h), Southampton (a), Besiktas (a) and Manchester City (h). Defeat in those Southampton and City games, having fielded strong sides against Besiktas, would see Rodgers receive criticism from those who think the Europa should be lower on his list of priorities.

The truth is, Rodgers can't win either way here. A debate among the writers of the This Is Anfield supporters website saw a myriad of responses, with the majority saying that Liverpool should take the competition seriously.

However, perhaps most wise would be to see how things have progressed come mid-February. If fourth place looks a long way off, then Europa must become top priority.