Steven Gerrard Shouldn't Start for Liverpool vs. United, Says Jamie Carragher

Jamie Carragher has said that he wouldn't include long-time friend and former team-mate Steven Gerrard in Liverpool's starting lineup when they take on Manchester United at Anfield on Sunday.

Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football, Carragher and Gary Neville chose their starting XIs for the clash. Carragher said: 

"

Who do you leave out? Henderson, you don't leave out. Allen was maybe one of the best players on the pitch against Man City. I don't think he'll play Steven Gerrard.

The team is playing well. They've been on a great run since Steven has been out of the team. Unfortunately, he'll know himself, when you go out the team and the team continue on a great run, it's hard to get back in.

It's unfortunate for him but we've all been there towards the end of our career.

"

Gerrard has missed Liverpool's last seven matches with a hamstring injury, but made a substitute appearance in Monday's 1-0 win over Swansea.

The 34-year-old played just 26 minutes but proved a calming presence on the team. Gerrard looked reassured in possession and was effective in regaining it for his side:

Nevertheless, Carragher is spot on with his honest and frank assessment of Gerrard, and the stats back him up.

In the Premier League, Liverpool have played six games without Gerrard this season, and won all six, scoring 14 goals and conceding just two in that time.

With Gerrard, their win percentage drops significantly:

Further, as Carragher points out, is the difficulty of slotting any returning player into a team playing so well. 

Jordan Henderson has continued the remarkable turnaround in his Liverpool career. Where once he was thought to be a big-money flop, the 24-year-old is now considered the Reds' long-term replacement for Gerrard, both in his position and as team captain.

Henderson has already equalled last season's tally of seven Premier League assists, and has chipped in with five goals to boot (h/t Squawka).

The midfielder is also a hard worker in the centre of the park, as he demonstrated in his heat map against Swansea on Monday night, courtesy of Squawka:

Squawka

The former Sunderland man has also proven his credentials as captain, so Liverpool are not without a leader in Gerrard's absence:

Henderson's presence will be much-needed against United, as will Joe Allen's.

Allen has been an outstanding performer of late, and according to Opta (via Tom Maston of Goal.com), he has surpassed Gerrard's passing accuracy and won a higher percentage of attempted tackles:

Goal.com

United pose a strong threat to the Reds, particularly in midfield.

Michael Carrick displayed in his performance against Tottenham Hotspur just how devastating he can be if given time and space to dictate play, while Marouane Fellaini is looking more settled with each game, not to mention the creative talents of Juan Mata and Angel Di Maria.

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Gerrard, far less mobile in his twilight years, would prove a liability that Liverpool cannot afford against a team such as Louis van Gaal's side.

With the former England captain in the side, Liverpool have a tendency to over-rely on Gerrard to try and bail them out when things go wrong, as they did in the draw with Basel that saw them knocked out of the UEFA Champions League.

However, with the talisman on the sidelines, Brendan Rodgers' men are forced to think for themselves and take matters into their own hands.

As the stats have shown, this change has benefited them greatly. For Liverpool to win on Sunday, Gerrard shouldn't start.

Carragher's Liverpool XI: Simon Mignolet; Emre Can, Martin Skrtel, Mamadou Sakho; Lazar Markovic, Jordan Henderson, Joe Allen, Alberto Moreno; Adam Lallana, Philippe Coutinho; Raheem Sterling

Neville's United XI: David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Daley Blind; Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick, Marouane Fellaini; Angel Di Maria, Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney