Steven Gerrard has some pulling power. It’s partly why he was able to lure former Liverpool team-mate Philippe Coutinho to Aston Villa from Barcelona in January and how, during his playing days, he was able to help the Reds attract a number of top players to Anfield too.
He played his part in convincing some players to stay put with Liverpool too, with the most memorable example being when he helped persuade Luis Suarez to spurn Arsenal’s advances following their controversial £40m and £1 bid in the summer of 2013. After all, who wouldn’t want to play alongside, or now for, the legendary Reds captain and one of the best players in the world?
Of course, Gerrard ’s interventions weren’t always successful but he’d always try, wanting the best for his boyhood club. However, there was one player he took a more withdrawn role with when it became clear their head might have been turned to leave Liverpool behind.
