Replacing Gerrard at 1-1 in a derby with a 20 year old who hasnt played in the Premiership yet would suggest one of two things.

1) Gerrard was exceptionally tired after the England games and couldnt carry on,so he was withdrawn with the trip to Turkey in mind. Gerrards reaction would imply that this wasnt the case.

2) Benitez has decided that Gerrard cant be trusted to win games for the Reds any more and is sending out a message that he is not undroppable.

I'm going for the second option, what do others think.

I'm going option for 3

3) Benitez saw something in the play that prompted him to bring on Lucas Leiva.

And we all know what happened then:handclap:

We seem to try and route everything through Gerrard, team seems more relaxed without the pressure of always going through him, not for the first time.

Excellent goalkeeping from Phil Neville.

Hi SteH, Dave, and Jon

I think options 1 and 3 are possibilities. It did occur to me when Gerrard came off that Benitez was saving him for the Besitkas game on Wednesday. On the other hand, he could have seen the value of introducing Lucas Leiva at that point in the match. Gerrard had worked his socks off throughout the match and probably was very tired. Although I admire Stevie and agree he is one of the 'Pool's best players he is by no means consistent -- I think if he were more consistent, Liverpool would win more times. This though was one of his better performances despite the fact that Liverpool overall were poor in the first half and Everton deserved their halftime lead.

All the best

Chris

Benitez said he needed someone to play with his brain not the heart, perhaps a reference to Gerrard getting worked up by the 'Baby not yours' chants and being a sending off risk.

Given the insecure everybody must love me world of Steven Gerrard's mind though Benitez has taken a bold gamble. Maybe he is having enough of the whole Stevie Me circus.

That horrible chanting - see what I mean about football fans being so horrible and below the belt with the insults.

It's not banter it's just vile insults.

Well our fans did sing 'Joleon Lescott The Elephant Man'

Well our fans did sing 'Joleon Lescott The Elephant Man'

Thankfully John Merrick was not alive to hear that particular insult.:rolleyes:

Well our fans did sing 'Joleon Lescott The Elephant Man'

Not sure why they called him that, but Liverpool would do well do buy him. A fine player is Mr Lescott.

I thought Lescott got forward very well which resulted in Vorinin spending most of the first half in his own half. He was also our furthest player upfield and was about to shoot when strangled, bear hugged and wrestled to the ground on two occassions and given his Everton goalscoring exploits of late, he was a real threat.

However, I have to say that I was delighted when Gerrard was substituted as with the extra space due to us only having 10 men, he was coming into it more and more. He was canny in battling into the area before going down (forwards - when all i've heard is that he was getting pulled backwards) and the look on his face and Carraghers when the No.8 board was placed up said it all)

I think Rafa got out of jail with that decision rather than it being great tactics but perhaps he's imposing a 'nobody is too big to be substituted or left out at this club' which is fine. I'm a Gerrard fan when he's playing for England and I think the two scouse lads pulled Liverpool out of the mire in that 3-3 CL final draw ;)

That horrible chanting - see what I mean about football fans being so horrible and below the belt with the insults.

It's not banter it's just vile insults.

Given Gerrards on £130,000 a week, I think he should be able to put up with that sort of chanting - all he has to do is the rocking the baby celebration when he scores to get them back. On the other hand maybe he has performed so woefully against Everton because this chanting has cut to the bone because he suspects his wife really is cheating on him.

Benitez wasn't eligible Gerarrd is the biggest footballer but Benitez don't know LİVERPOOL and FOOTBALL

Given Gerrards on £130,000 a week, I think he should be able to put up with that sort of chanting - all he has to do is the rocking the baby celebration when he scores to get them back. On the other hand maybe he has performed so woefully against Everton because this chanting has cut to the bone because he suspects his wife really is cheating on him.

:shock:

I don't know Ste.

it just sounds like a horrible thing to say about anyone. what about when the child is old enough to understand ? - those chants are just uncalled for.

it's a horrible insult. :(

ps,

I'm waffling !! :D


I don't understand football and shouldn't be sticking my nose in ! :D

.. I just think though, that the horrible chants are so crude - especially the ones about Munich and .. what's the other one they do ... something about Harold Shipman ??

awful !!

good job my son isn't seeing me posting this - - he'd be saying, 'shut up mum, you don't know what you're talking about !' :D

.. but I do know that the one aimed at Gerrard is a terrible insult.



I'll get lost out of this thread now :unibrow:

Here's a funny chant for you that my LFC mate reliably informs me the Welsh from Cardiff were singing last night (in good voice from the valleys, especially when they drew level for 46 seconds)

It's regarding sheep and they sang........

We sh*g em, you eat em'


Enough to put you off mutton for life ha ha.