By DAN KARELL
A man who’s name is as synonymous as the soccer team he plays for and the city he’s always lived in could be moving to greener pastures.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard’s days with the club could be numbered, as the club have yet to offer Gerrard a new contract, with his current one expiring this coming June. The 34-year-old admitted in an interview that he doesn’t feel like he’s ready to wrap up his career, meaning that his future could lie away from Anfield.
“I won’t be retiring this summer,” he says. “I will play beyond this season. We will have to wait and see if that’s at Liverpool or somewhere else. That’s Liverpool’s decision.”
Gerrard has been a key starter and member of the first team for Liverpool since making his debut in late 1998, and was given the captain’s armband in Oct. 2003. Gerrard helped lead Liverpool to one of their greatest feats in the 2005 UEFA Champions League final, coming back from a three-goal deficit to beat AC Milan.
Gerrard, who has made just short of 500 appearances in his career for the Reds, has played nine English Premier League games this season, scoring two goals. He has been criticized for some of the team’s early-season struggles.
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NEYMAR TO BE SELECTED FOR 2016 OLYMPICS
Brazil could be pulling out the stops in 2016 to secure the one soccer trophy they’ve never won.
With the 2016 Olympics set to take place in Rio de Janeiro and Brazil’s continued failure to win an Olympic gold medal in soccer, Brazil Under-23 head coach Alexandre Gallo mentioned on a Sao Paulo TV program that he plans on calling up Neymar as one of his three overage players allowed for the tournament. Neymar starred for the Brazilian Olympic team in the 2012 London games and led Brazil to the final, where they were defeated soundly by Mexico.
This could create complications for the Brazilian National Team and FC Barcelona though. Brazil are taking part in the 2016 Copa Centenario in the USA earlier in the summer, and it’s unlikely that Barcelona will want one of their stars to play throughout the summer in two big tournaments before returning to Spain with hardly any break.
SILVA KO’D FOR THREE WEEKS WITH KNEE INJURY
Manchester City will be without one of their key playmakers for this weekend’s Manchester derby and beyond.
Man City manager Manuel Pellegrini confirmed on Friday that David Silva will miss up to three weeks with a knee ligament injury, ruling him out of this Sunday’s clash against Man United as well as upcoming matches against CSKA Moscow and Queens Park Rangers.
“David has a problem in his ligament,” Pellegrini said. “Maybe he will be out around three weeks so he will not be available for the derby.”
Silva has played 14 games for Man City this season in all competitions, scoring two goals.
QUICK KICKS
AC Milan and Manchester United are in talks to play a lucrative friendly match this winter in the Middle East, as both clubs are not participating in European competition this season. (REPORT)
Olivier Giroud is three weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery from a fractured leg, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. (REPORT)
Celtic midfielder Aleksander Tonev has been suspended for seven matches after being found guilty of racially abusing an opposing player. (REPORT)
Everton announced a record profit of £28.2 million for the year ending on May 31, 2014. (REPORT)
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What do you think of these reports? Do you see Gerrard ever leaving Liverpool? Do you believe he can still play at a high level? Should Neymar skip the Copa Centenario to play in the Olympics?
Share your thoughts below.
“He has been criticized for some of the team’s early-season struggles.”
i’m not saying players shouldn’t get criticized when they screw up (and gerrard *has* screwed up), but while gerrard has been on the downward slope for a season or so, it’s unfair to expect him to bench himself.
rodgers–and liverpool–needs to take the blame for consistently starting a player who is not up to requirements anymore.
I want Rodgers to take the blame, I really do, but Gerrard IS Liverpool. There would be hell if Gerrard wasn’t starting this season, which is why it’s so depressing that he can’t handle this holding midfielder role.
I think Rodgers is doing one of his “calculated risks” by starting Gerrard. Show the fan base that Gerrard isn’t adapting to this new role and let him naturally leave Liverpool…or not give him a new contract and again let him leave on his own terms.
No he cant leave. Pouts go in corner. Stares at jersey. Remembers the good times. Hums youll never walk alone to self. Try not to cry. Cry.
He needs to start playing less games he should not play over 30 a season. hes not as young as he once was. give him a 2 year deal. Explain that he will be substituted more.
Gerard to nycfc or Los Angeles 2. It’s going to be crazy off seasons for MLS when markets like Seattle, Los Angeles 1 and 2, nycfc,red bull, Toronto, Miami, are after big time young and veteran dps.
I know Miami is not in MLS YET but sure they will and Vegas would be a very nice expansion market for MLS.
I would love to see Gerrard in Serie A.
Gerrard leaving Liverpool can only mean he will sign for Atlanta, which means that he’ll play two seasons for Everton.
I’d guess that every rumor about any major player moving to MLS is “replace Donovan”
Brad Davis to LA!
why stop there with the unworthy? don’t forget Wondo etc. 🙂
Ha, you got my drift. Wondo to LA!
Begin the Gerard to MLS rumor mill!
Gerrard, Klose, and Podolski to the Fire in 2015!!! 1998 reborn.
That works for me.
I got so excited that I almost choked on my Polish sausage.
With all due respect to Mr Gerard… he’s not good enough to play in the MLS. D. Villa, Lampard, TH14, Beckham, Robbie Keane… all came here with something to offer their new clubs ON THE FIELD. I fear Stevie G would be left in the dust playing here just as he is well behind the pace in the Prem. Maybe he can pull a Raul and play in the NASL. But I just don’t think he has the legs to give Frederico Higuain a run or to track back and close down a Marco DiVaio trademark diagonal run from the flank. He needs to go to Asia or Australia and take the $ rather than come here to burn some club’s salary allocation for nothing. This is not a retirement league.