Liverpool Will Be in Crisis Without Steven Gerrard, Predicts Bruce Grobbelaar

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar has told talkSPORT that he fears the club will be left in "disarray" when captain Steven Gerrard leaves at the end of the season.

Liverpool confirmed last week that Gerrard would be moving on when his contract expires in the summer.

The day before the announcement was made, the 34-year-old midfielder scored both goals in the 2-2 home draw with Leicester City in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.

He again showed what Liverpool will be missing by scoring twice in Monday’s 2-1 win at AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup third round.

Grobbelaar is worried about how Liverpool will cope when Gerrard goes, telling talkSPORT’s Extra Time programme (via Nick Rostron-Pike):

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I would give him games week in and week out. He’s still a leader and we still need him. Liverpool still rely on him a lot, he delivers, as he did against Wimbledon. He was the only one who came up to scratch and got the two goals. What are they going to rely on next season? Who is going to be leading this club? If you don’t have a person like Gerrard, then the club might be in disarray.

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Alan Shearer also knows that Gerrard will be missed after his goals against Wimbledon, telling BBC Sport's Match of the Day: "He gives Liverpool more the further forward you push him. He might not be able to get into areas he did 10 years ago but he's so clever. He knows what positions to take up and when he gets a chance, like we saw with that free-kick, he is deadly."

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has already confirmed that Jordan Henderson is the leading candidate to replace Gerrard as captain, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo.

Henderson has been vice-captain for Liverpool this season and has become an increasingly important player for both his club and England. But will Henderson be taking over the armband from a man who will end his Liverpool career by lifting a trophy?

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Liverpool are currently 17 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and Manchester City after failing to build on last season’s second-placed finish.

However, they are in the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup and will play Chelsea over two legs later in January. Liverpool are also in the last 32 of the Europa League and take on Besiktas in February.

But, given the significance of the date of the FA Cup final, which is on Gerrard’s birthday, then winning that competition would provide a memorable farewell.

Gerrard’s team-mate Martin Skrtel is certainly hoping that the players can send off their skipper on a winning note.

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"It would be nice if we can win the FA Cup," Skrtel told Pearce. "We want Stevie to finish this career here with another trophy. There is a long way to go in the competition but we will try our best."

Gerrard has already won the FA Cup twice with Liverpool: against Arsenal in 2001 and West Ham United in 2006. He scored twice in the final against West Ham and sent the game to extra-time before Liverpool won on penalties.

A fourth-round tie at home to Championship club Bolton Wanderers certainly gives Liverpool a strong chance of reaching the last 16. From there, it could be all about the luck of the draw.

With Gerrard turning 35 on FA Cup final day on May 30, it would certainly be a fitting way for him to leave Liverpool.