The 36-year-old could be heading back to Merseyside in one of the biggest stories of the season.
Alan Hansen has told The Sun that Steven Gerrard’s prospective homecoming can only have a positive impact at Liverpool, regardless of whether he returns in a coaching or a playing capacity.
The legendary skipper conformed his expected departure from LA Galaxy on Tuesday amid growing speculation that he could be heading back to Britain, with former managers Brendan Rodgers and Rafael Benitez rumoured to be keen on a reunion at Celtic or Newcastle United respectively.
However, Gerrard, who spent the entirety of his professional career at his boyhood club, has been heavily tipped for an emotional return to Anfield just over a year after his protracted departure, with The Sun reporting that he is likely to take up youth coaching role to unearth the next generation of homegrown heroes on Merseyside.
And Hansen believes Gerrard is still more than capable on contributing on the pitch, stating that the presence of one of the club’s all-time greats will have a galvanising impact on a side currently flying high at the top of the Premier League.
“They will not have to pay him fortunes – they can tell him if they need him he’ll play,” the great Liverpool centre-back, who won eight First Division titles and three European Cups at Anfield, told The Sun.
“The most important thing in all this, though, is that he would not be seen as a threat by Jurgen Klopp if he was on the coaching staff.
“He would be brilliant to have around the club because he would be in awe of Klopp, so that is just not a worry. I am sure Klopp would love it too – the only effects would be positive.
“He has already coached Liverpool’s under-16 team for a while in 2015 and really enjoyed it. If you are an under-16 and getting coached by Stevie G, then how good is that?”
The 36-year-old has already obtained his UEFA B coaching licence, and taking up a role behind the scenes appears a more likely proposition for a player whose influence waned during the latter stages of Rodgers’ reign.
Most notably, Gerrard, who had rode to Liverpool’s rescue on countless occasions in defining clashes, was benched for crucial encounters against Real Madrid and Manchester United in the 2014/15 season, receiving a straight red for a stamp on Ander Herrera seconds after coming on against the latter.
And despite Klopp insisting last month that the former England international would always be welcome on Merseyside, Gerrard appears unsuited to the German’s high-tempo gameplan, suggesting a role behind the scenes could be a more likely proposition.
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