Time for redemption for Liverpool

Yet, Gerrard has adapted his game under Rodgers; he’s also appeared to change on and off the pitch. Now a deep lying midfielder, those beautiful passes to switch the play that will find his target with the perfect ball to their feet. Gerrard now appears the statesman on Camera, and a vocal leader on the pitch; both characteristics he was never renowned for, both assets to his game which maybe we as fans wished we’d seen a few years ago. He also seems to manage the referee in games too, and anyone will tell you that all these things together are the qualities that champions possess in the game.

The captain has seen the rise and fall of Liverpool. But let’s be under no illusion, he’s been a part of it. That may sound harsh for the local boy come captain, but it’s true. This season is huge for Gerrard as it could well represent his last chance at being a Liverpool regular whose name is always first on the team sheet. Gerrard knows this only too well and in recent interviews, he’s been clear he has unfinished business. Here’s hoping for more of the same from Stevie, I for one, am expecting big things from our captain this season.

This Liverpool side has one characteristic running through it and to sum that up in one word, I can choose no other than redemption. The vast majority of our players are looking to put the wrongs of their differing past’s right, and some looking their next big move, some looking to settle old scores and others looking to announce themselves on the world stage – new signings eager to set the record straight, the captain looking to help propel Liverpool back into the Champions League. There’s a passion back in Liverpool now, a passion and a fire that’s been missing for so long.

If Liverpool fans have something to get behind this season, it’s the fact it could all be an incredible adventure. But the core must remain the team and the team alone. With everyone looking for something to prove, the best collective way to achieve this is through building a unified spirit and helping each other out when the going gets tough as it most certainly will. Bill Shankly used to talk about the ‘group’, or the ‘collective’; Bob Paisley carried this through to Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish in his first term as manager.

There are a lot of us who wish we’d landed those marquee players, but second only to already proven talent is the power of being able to prove someone wrong. Just look at Daniel Sturridge!

Of course, this could all change in our next game, but nothing good ever comes without stumbling; we always fall down at times.

If I was Brendan Rodgers, I’d simply start and end my team talk with one phrase.

“Was it you or I who stumbled first? It does not matter. The one of us, who finds the strength to get up first, must help the other.”

No, Rodgers is not Moses (no pun intended) or Abraham receiving the Ten Commandments to impart to God’s faithful throughout the world, but if he can use all of this to his advantage, then I’ll expect great things from this Liverpool side this season.

Redemption is more than just forgiveness after all, it’s setting the record straight too, it’s about fixing what you and others may have broken in the first place.

As the manager said ‘we can only trust each other’. Here’s hoping this season, it’s everyone else casting their eye towards Liverpool; let’s hope the team and the club, don’t let anyone walk alone.