Steven Gerrard has spoken of his determination to make the holding position in front of Liverpool’s defense his own and build on a supreme display in the deep role against Everton on Tuesday.
Reds fans first glimpsed the 33-year-old there during the clashes against Oldham Athletic and Stoke City in early January.
However, Gerrard told Liverpoolfc.com following the 2-2 draw against Aston Villa six days later that he had found it difficult throughout the first half.
The skipper was at his authoritative and uncompromising best Tuesday night, as he orchestrated the Reds’ stunning 4-0 defeat of Everton from deep.
After accepting a man of the match award for his derby performance in Anfield’s Carlsberg lounge, Gerrard said, “It’s a different position to the one that I’ve played for the last 12 or 15 years.
“Previously, I’ve been trying to get from box to box. But the new role is more about control and organizing the people in front of me.
“I know that with time and work on the training pitch, I can get it right, because I believe I can play in a number of positions.”
Gerrard put the Reds ahead in the Merseyside derby in the 21st minute when he anticipated Luis Suarez’s corner, nodded beyond Tim Howard and sprinted to the main stand to celebrate with the Uruguayan and the supporters.
But the night was about to get even better for the delirious Kopites packed into Anfield. Daniel Sturridge chipped in with two sublime strikes before Suarez ran from the halfway line to roll his shot past Howard for the 4-0 lead.
“I’ve got to be honest. I thought it was going to be a really cagey affair,” Gerrard said. “I thought maybe one goal either way would have decided it. But the way we played, I thought it could have been even more.
“I think the Tottenham result away from home was fantastic and also beating Manchester United. But for me, the most important thing is always the derby at home, so to beat them 4-0 is great.”
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