FORMER LIVERPOOL CAPTAIN Steven Gerrard says Jurgen Klopp’s team could change their lives by winning the Champions League final.
The Reds take on holders Real Madrid in Kiev on Saturday in a bid to be crowned champions of Europe for the sixth time.
Gerrard inspired Liverpool to their dramatic triumph over AC Milan in 2004-05, the last time they won the trophy, while he also tasted defeat to the same opponents in the final of 2006-07.
The ex-England international thinks winning the competition can be a defining moment in a player’s career and urged Klopp’s side to “seize the moment” in Kiev.
“These players have an opportunity to not just change their careers but their lives in general,” he told Liverpool’s official website. ”They are the moments that you dream of.
“My message to the players would be: go and grasp it, go and seize the moment you have worked so hard for. Go and reward yourselves for the journey you have taken this club on.
“You’ve got to go in with the belief and confidence; you have come this far. You’ve got to handle the responsibility of being a Liverpool player and you’ve got to go and deliver.
“You’ll get plaudits and praise for getting where you are but not many people remember it if you don’t get over the line and deliver.
“I’m still really good friends with ex-team-mates in that team that I played with and I know what it would mean for them. I just hope they go and do it.”
"They are the moments that you dream of" 🙌
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 21, 2018
Gerrard's #UCLfinal message to #LFC squad: https://t.co/z5pWf16uTk pic.twitter.com/Pc0XZaysek
Gerrard admits there has been more to admire about Klopp’s side from a neutral’s perspective than the Liverpool team of 13 years ago, who only made it out of their group with a 3-1 win over Olympiacos on matchday six.
“When we did it under Rafa [Benitez], with all due respect, some games we had to grind, a lot of games we had to suffer in and just get over the line,” he said.
“Our strength was mental strength, we never felt we were beaten and you had to work extremely hard to get anything out of us. This team still has the mental toughness but on the eye they look superb.
“Everyone is thinking, ‘Liverpool deserve this.’ They have looked the best, they have done it in style and, being a Liverpool fan, it has been brilliant to be part of.”
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I don’t think it is wide open, put the time into Kelleher now even if he goes badly for a few games.
@Jim Demps: I would have said the same. However anytime I have heard Flannery analyse a situation I have been very impressed with him.
Maybe he hasn’t seen enough of Kelleher or maybe from his experience and knowledge of the position he’s spotted a weakness or development need and hence the view that the position is very much up for grabs
@Jim Demps: the best hooker in the country is cronin. Kelleher will have a job on his hands to get past him this season. I know full well he’s not one for the future but he’s still the best
Kelleher is the man. The others are competent but not stand-out. There is great talent coming through in the academies, so, until they are ready, give Kelleher the #2 jersey.
@Stephen Rogan: keep an eye out for Dan Sheehan. Just been promoted a year early to a senior contract at Leinster and will see lots of game time this season.
@Joe O: how long before he signs for Munster?
@Conor Pocock: Dan Sheehan has been tearing up trees in the AIL and for Leinster A. Both he and Kelleher are serious operators.
@Conor Pocock: Of course he will join Ireland’s more popular province
@Decko49: Hes not from Johannesburg Decko so he wont be of interest to your lot
My only problem with Kelleher is that he hasn’t been tested in adversity yet. Looked good in a dominant Leinster pack and team earlier this season. Scored lots of tries off close-in mauls. Now he certainly could be special, but we haven’t seen enough yet. Agree with Jim that he should start with Heffernan on the bench for the coming games. Neither Scannell nor Herring have what it takes.
@David Finn: Scannell is 28 and Herring is 30. Both have shown they can step up to test level. Herring in particular can definitely do a job for us.
Heffernan is 29. Good player but not sure why he ‘has what it takes’ when he has probably shown less than the other two, particularly at test/Euro level?
(Or is it just because he’s from Connacht?!)
@Oval Digest: Scannell & Herring haven’t proved anything at test level. They’ve both been bang average.
@Harry O’Callaghan: They’ve both had good showings. Far more than Heffernan has.
Neither are Keith Wood re-incarnate, but both are good enough to be second behind Kelleher for a few years while other evolve.
Always rated Delahunt at Connacht as a quality player
Plenty of quality coming through at hooker. DTM in Connacht, Stewart in Ulster, Barron in Munster and Kelleher/Sheahan in Leinster.
We probably need Herring/Scannell to step up a bit to bridge the gap before these guys mature though.
Scannell in particular has been a bit dissapointing. Looked like he could’ve taken Best’s starting spot a few years back but never kicked on really.
Heffernan by a country mile…!
For me Herring has done well so far and has been excellent for Ulster both in the Pro14 and in Europe. Kelleher looks like a fine prospect but he’s yet to prove himself at the top level. It’s a nice situation for Farrell to be able to play the proven hooker and bring the youngster off the bench to aid his development. If Kelleher does enough as a replacement to displace Herring all well and good. If he takes time to realise his potential he will get it off the bench. Those that are calling for the likes of Kelleher, Baird etc to be dropped straight into the international 15 without earning it are sending the wrong message to players. Potential is great but you can’t eat a potential apple.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: best and most sensible comment on this thread so far Throwing a rookie into the cauldron of test match rugby especially in the middle of the front row ! Is a big ask regardless of how promising young kelleher is he needs to be eased in gradually and given time to develop another great young prospect is Stewart at Ulster one for the future
@William Mills: Thanks William, I’m looking forward to seeing Stewart. I was at the Ulster A match with the Dragons in Ystrad Mynach last August/September and I think he was playing but I hadn’t heard of him then and I can’t find the line ups now.
@Sustainable Hedgehog: Tom Stewart started that game Ulster won 43-31
Herring was one of Ireland’s better players during the 6N.
Whoever wrote the top photo caption clearly couldn’t resist a bit of ‘h for hooker’ alliteration