Steven Gerrard could be handed the chance to lead from the front once again, as Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has dropped the biggest hint yet that the midfielder could start against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.
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The Reds skipper has missed the last three games through suspension, after being shown a red card for a stamp on Ander Herrera against Manchester United last month less than a minute after coming on as a half-time substitute.
Gerrard is yet to start a match for the Merseyside outfit after limping out of the 3-2 win against Tottenham back in February, but Rodgers seems ready to recall the 34-year-old for the big game at Wembley:
“He’s definitely ready [to come back],” he said in his pre-match press conference (via This Is Anfield).
“He’s a special player, he still is. He’s been in his time a big player who scores big goals in big moments. He knows Wembley very well, and he’s someone who has got a special quality,” the Northern Irishman added.
Rodgers has also had his say on the incident involving Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe after images were released (via Sky Sports) earlier in the week of the pair holding shisha pipes. This came on the back of a video (via Sky Sports) that emerged of the former taking in laughing gas, with the manager claiming he has plans to speak to the duo:
“Young players are obviously aware of their responsibilities. Raheem didn’t do anything illegal…but we need to make them aware of the health issues that come with that [inhaling nitrous oxide].”
“[Sterling and Ibe] are both guys that do a lot of good things that go unnoticed,” he added.
Listen to Rodgers’ thoughts on the situation: