Steven Gerrard could easily have played for Barcelona and Real Madrid, says Souness

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Steven Gerrard, unless he arrives back on a short-term loan spell, will never play another match for Liverpool, it pains us to say…

Our legendary skipper is heading to MLS to join franchise LA Galaxy.

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But during his peak in the mid-noughties, there was arguably no better central midfielder on the planet, and former Liverpool star Graeme Souness thinks exactly that.

“The way I would describe a great player is someone who could go and get into any team in the world,” Souness told Liverpool’s website, reported here in the Mirror.

“There were a good five or six years where Steven could have done that, and I think that says everything.

“He could have gone to Real Madrid, he could have gone to Barcelona, he could have gone to Juventus or the big Italian teams at the time, and got in their team and would have been welcomed.

“And that puts him down, in my book, as a great player – one of the world greats.”

It’s impossible to argue with the Scot, too.

Not only could Gerrard score goals from midfield, but he was versatile, ferociously hard-working, energetic, technically superb and a leader. He could also pass, tackle, shoot and head the ball as well as anybody.

From 2004, to perhaps 2009 – there was probably nobody central midfielder in world football. The thought of a prime Gerrard lining up alongside Xavi and Andres Iniesta at Barcelona in mouthwatering, but of course, we’re delighted that he chose to stay loyal to Anfield and reject the advances of various European behemoths.

Replacing him this summer is going to be near impossible task – but we hope the club choose to spend big on somebody who has even some of his best attributes – as his departure is going to leave a monumental vacuum on the pitch and at the club.

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