Steven Gerrard is not the answer to everything

Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard is not the answer to everything after Rhian Brewster was linked with a move to Rangers next season.

The Liverpool starlet was experiencing an excellent first taste of senior football with Swansea City, where he’s scored four goals in 11 appearances, but COVID-19 put an end to that.

Reports have linked Rhian Brewster with a move to Glasgow as Steven Gerrard has been reported to be eyeing up Kirkby graduates once again. Ryan Kent enjoyed a successful spell in Scotland and made his move permanent in the summer, while Sheyi Ojo is currently on loan at Ibrox.

But Gerrard shouldn’t be hailed as the solution to all of Liverpool’s problems, especially when it comes to the development of the most talented Academy graduates.

One reason for that is the quality of the Scottish Premier League, which isn’t much better than the Championship and is often worse. Rhian Brewster needs to be playing at the highest level possible, and after proving his ability in the second tier he’ll be eyeing up a place in a Premier League squad next season.

11 games isn’t a great sample size to go from, but the fact that the England U17 World Cup winner went straight into the Swansea City first team says something about the ability of the youngster.

One feather in the cap of Gerrard and Rangers is the fact that he’s been able to offer European football this season. For example, Ojo has been able to pick up seven games in Europa League qualifying as well a six appearances in the main competition.

But a season learning the ropes in the top flight outweighs the benefits of playing sides like Braga and Young Boys – even if that’s a good experience for the player. Those can come later on, after a season featuring in the best domestic competition in the world.

Which is why Steven Gerrard can’t be hailed as the solution to our Rhian Brewster problem: How do we ensure he fulfills his potential and can compliment the existing front three without stagnating in the squad?