Saturday will see another game ticked off as iconic midfielder Steven Gerrard counts down to the end of his glorious spell at Liverpool.
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The Reds travel to West Bromwich Albion this afternoon, only six Premier League matches remaining before his 28-year association finishes with a switch to Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Galaxy.
Gerrard has swept up all of the game’s greatest honours apart from the Premier League since making his debut in 1998, including star turns in Champions League, FA Cup and UEFA Cup successes.
One man well positioned to comment on the 34-year-old’s achievements is Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish. The Scot was the heartbeat of one of the most dominant sides in British history, winning six First Division titles and three European Cups between 1977 and 1990.
499 – Steven Gerrard will become the 12th player to make 500 @PremierLeague appearances, should he play this weekend. Landmark.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 24, 2015
He has also spent two spells as boss, Gerrard being his captain during his latest one between 2011 and 2012.
Speaking at the ICONS Cup at Dubai Creek Golf and Yacht Club, the 64-year-old paid tribute to a “fantastic servant”.
He said: “I think everyone who has followed Liverpool will remember Stevie very fondly.
“He has been a fantastic servant. Everybody will be disappointed to see him go, but life does not go on forever. He was fantastic in the dressing room. Every club which has ever had any success has had a fantastic dressing room.
“He was very strong in the dressing room and a fantastic ally to me as a manager. I am sure he has been the same for Brendan.”
Dalglish and Gerrard have interchanged between top spot and runners-up in the two ‘100 Players who shook the Kop’ votes to decide Liverpool’s greatest-ever player.
The Scottish forward earned his place when starring alongside all-time greats such as Graeme Souness, Ian Rush and Alan Hansen.
When asked if Gerrard would have been included in that line-up if he’d been playing then, Dalgish replied: “He would have graced any time. But I don’t know who he would be left out for. As long as it wouldn’t have been me, I’d have been quite happy.”
A current leading light for the Reds is Philippe Coutinho. The Brazil playmaker’s fine form this term has seen him included on the six-man shortlists for both the Professional Footballers’ Association Player and Young Player of the Year prizes.
“He’s been really good this year, the boy,” Dalglish said.
“He has scored some vital goals and has been really good. He has settled down to the English way of life and performed really well. The way Liverpool play really suits him and the coach [Brendan Rodgers].”
Dalglish signed striker Luis Suarez in January 2011, the Uruguay international going on to score 69 goals in 110 often-outstanding appearances before departing last summer to Barcelona for £75 million (Dh416.5m).
The 28-year-old started slowly at the Nou Camp but has shown his best form in recent weeks, his pair of nutmegs to set up his goals against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League showing him at his impudent best.
Dalglish believes “there’s a bit more to come” from Suarez.
He said: “That’s why we signed him. He was fantastic for Liverpool. He’s settled in at Barcelona now and he’s starting to producing the goods.
“He doesn’t want to get mixed up in anything else, that’s all he wants to do – play football, go home, see his wife and kids. As good as he’s done for Barcelona, I think there’s a bit more to come yet.”
