Kenny Dalglish discusses Steven Gerrard potentially playing in his final Merseyside derby…
Legendary former Liverpool star Kenny Dalglish hopes that Steven Gerrard still has two games left to play against local rivals Everton, despite today’s clash widely being described as the captain’s final Merseyside derby.
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Gerrard will join MLS side LA Galaxy when his contract at Anfield expires at the end of the season, but before he goes he’s aiming to lead the Reds back into the top four and to win a trophy.
The 34-year-old will lead his team out for his last Premier League game against the Toffees later this afternoon, but Dalglish has suggested that the two teams could yet be in for a shock meeting in the Europa League final.
Liverpool will enter the competition later this month after dropping out of the Champions League, while Everton will also be looking to progress after impressing in the competition’s group stage late last year.
For Gerrard, who surpassed 700 games for Liverpool last week, a meeting in Warsaw against our oldest foes would be the most appropriate of ends.
“He’s one of the greatest players of all time,” Dalglish explains in the Daily Mirror.
“It’s no wonder Brendan Rodgers says Everton will be glad to see the back of him. The kid is pure class, a unique talent who has an appetite for the game that is unsurpassed in his generation.
“He’ll be quite emotional about possibly playing in his last derby, though it would be nice to think it may not be be the last, because it wouldn’t be a bad way to leave Liverpool by facing the next door neighbours in the Europa League Final.
“I’ve had the pleasure of managing him of course, and I could give you a long list of accolades to go with the many others that have poured out since he said he’ll be leaving Liverpool in the summer – talent, class, passion, temperament.
“My defining memory of him in the derby is probably the one that eclipses all the others for him, and may well be his best moment against Everton.
“He produced one of the best performances in the game’s history for me back in 2012, when he scored a hat-trick. It was the first one since Rushie in ‘82, and it was a showcase of Steven’s many talents.”