[lfc-news] Ian Rush column - Echo

Liverpool Echo, 18 Jan 2005
Steve can't perform miracles all the time
By Ian Rush, Liverpool Echo

IF EVER a game showed why there is still too much responsibility on
Steven Gerrard at Liverpool, Saturday was it.

I was disappointed to hear some critical comments regarding Gerrard's
performance against Manchester United.

He wasn't on top form, but is Steven expected to perform miracles on his
own every week?

When he's not at his best, who else takes responsibility to inspire the
side? Other than the brilliant Jamie Carragher, I still feel there are
too many players at Anfield who look to the skipper to carry the team.

If Gerrard doesn't do so, others go hiding and let the focus fall
unfairly on their captain.

Steven's standards have been so high, anything less than a world class
performance creates murmurs of disapproval.

I know, like most of my Chester squad, Steven was suffering from a virus
over Christmas and perhaps that affected his performance.

I'm not making excuses for him. I don't need to. For the last three
years he's been the most consistent midfielder in Europe, not just
Liverpool.

But like every great player he has to be allowed a poor game now and
again. And it's then his team-mates need to respond and raise their
game. That didn't happen against Manchester United.

Roy Keane was top man in midfield at the weekend, but just because he
won the battle in one game, it doesn't mean Gerrard's got anything more
to learn from him.

I wouldn't swop one for the other. Keane has been a tremendous player,
but the one thing he's never offered which Gerrard does is a regular
supply of goals.

There have been enough United versus Liverpool games in the last four
years where Gerrard outplayed Keane. I won't forget those games just
because of the disappointing performance on Saturday.

Add experience to youthful look

IT'S a risk for Rafa Benitez to throw in the kids against Burnley tonight.

Like a lot of Liverpool supporters, I'd feel more comfortable if a
strong backbone was kept in the side with the likes of Carragher,
Hyypia, Gerrard and Baros chosen.

Young players can learn from playing alongside such experience as much
as being thrown in the deep end together.

Liverpool's Academy stars have responded superbly to every challenge in
the Carling Cup this season, and there's no reason to believe they won't
do so again.

But with Bournemouth waiting in round four, there's a great opportunity
for Liverpool to make progress in another cup competition.

Hopefully we won't be talking about what might have been tomorrow morning.

One rule for top clubs, another for the rest

NOT so long ago, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool were
threatened with a fine if they fielded a weakened team.

On Saturday, Chester City were warned we'd be fined unless we knowingly
selected a weakened side.

We only had trainees to call-up, but the Football League insisted we play.

The hypocrisy angers me, even though we managed to earn a 0-0 draw with
Cambridge and could have won the match.

I had 12 first team players sidelined with flu last week, and some of my
YTS players were also suffering.

Despite our appeals to to the Football League, we were told if we didn't
play we'd be fined £20,000 or deducted points.

Some of my young players were told they risked pneumonia if they played,
yet the Football League refused to reschedule the match.

On the back of having to sell one of my best players, Kevin Ellison, to
Hull City, all this contributed to the most difficult week of my
management career so far.

I've discovered the hard way that there's definitely one rule for the
top clubs, and another for the rest of us in football.


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