It seems to be a case of head over heart…
Brendan Rodgers says he didn’t start Steven Gerrard against Swansea because of Liverpool’s great form over the past three months.
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Since the Christmas period we’ve been nothing short of spectacular, taking 32 points from 36 available – the most out of any team in the Premier League in the last twelve games – and last night secured our fifth league win on the bounce.
Despite Gerrard being a big part of that run of form before his hamstring injury against Tottenham in our 3-2 win, the team has continued to succeed in his absence.
And that paired with his five week stint on the sidelines meant Rodgers could not throw him straight back into the side, and he cannot afford to let sentimentality tug on his heartstrings given Gerrard’s Liverpool career will end in the next few months.
“You have to pay respect to the team,” said the Boss, reports Daily Star.
“The team has been playing very well and getting results and collectively over the last three months we’ve been in great form.
“You’ve also got to pay attention that he (Gerrard) has been out for considerable period of time as well, but you see how important he is when he came on.
“We were able to penetrate when Steven came on and he offered that calmness and control.
“We switched to a diamond with Steven at the bottom and he was very important to that.”
Whilst it’s clearly a painful thought that Gerrard only has nine Premier League games left in his Liverpool career – and perhaps three more in the FA Cup let’s not forget – emotion can’t overrule the success of the team.