Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has said that if Steven Gerrard can get a result at Manchester City and help the Reds win the league, it won’t take any credit away from Jurgen Klopp.
Gerrard’s Aston Villa head to the Etihad on Sunday to take on Pep Guardiola’s side knowing that if they can draw or beat Man City and Liverpool win, Klopp’s side will win the Premier League title. Gerrard has been touted as a future replacement for the German when he finally leaves and Sunday is an opportunity to make himself even more popular with Liverpool fans. However, Murphy believes Gerrard will just be focused on the game and won’t look to take the praise away from Klopp.
“One day, Stevie could be the Liverpool manager,” Murphy wrote in his Daily Mail column. “But if he helps Jurgen Klopp win a quadruple, following the German at Anfield will be like an impossible job because you can’t get better than winning all four trophies! Though Stevie will be delighted if he can pull off a result at City and Liverpool reclaim the title, he won’t be patting himself on the back nor trying to take credit away from Klopp — this will be Klopp’s achievement.”
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Murphy also thinks Gerrard is best placed to understand the magnitude of Sunday’s game for a Villa side in 14th place that have nothing to play for. He said: “I’m sure Steven Gerrard has been pestered all week by calls from his friends, his Dad, his brother, all reminding him he has to beat Man City on Sunday.
“That’s ok, Stevie is a big boy. He’s never been one to hide or turn his phone off, he’ll take it on the chin and of course he’ll understand it being a big Red himself, but it won’t make him lose focus or deviate from the game plan he’s set out for the Etihad. He’ll know better than anyone what Sunday means for Liverpool as a city and its supporters. I am sure he’d prefer to be playing City so he can do his old club a favour rather than having Villa go to Anfield.
“As a manager, Stevie has been good at detaching himself from emotional stuff that he can’t control. So he might have had a joke or two with his pals from Merseyside but closer to match day, his energy will be on making sure his team is set out at right because you’ve got to be cute and clever against City.”
While a result for Villa will only increase Gerrard’s legendary status at Anfield, Murphy doesn’t believe that it will impact upon his chances of eventually replacing Klopp at the Etihad. He said: “Liverpool fans sing Stevie’s name before most games anyway, I heard it at Wembley when I watched the Carabao Cup final, but it’ll be sung with extra gusto at Anfield at half-past-three on Sunday. I don't think it will increase or reduce his chances of one day taking over at Anfield.
“Klopp will be there for some time and when it is time to find a replacement, the owners will choose the next candidate on their body of work over a period of time, not 90 minutes.”
