DELIGHTED Steven Gerrard believes Robbie Keane’s Liverpool career is poised for lift-off after the striker helped secure derby victory on Saturday.
Two goals from Fernando Torres inside three second-half minutes gave the Anfield outfit a 2-0 win at Goodison in the 208th meeting between the Merseyside rivals.
Keane was instrumental in both goals, providing a perfect cross for Torres’s opener and then heavily involved in the build-up to the Spaniard’s second.
The Republic of Ireland international is still awaiting his first goal for Rafael Benitez’s side since his near £20m transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
But skipper Gerrard revealed the praise that Keane received in the dressing room for his efforts in ensuring Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season.
“I know that Nando was class and showed how deadly he can be, but I still believe that Robbie Keane was an equally genuine contender for the man of the match award,” said Gerrard.
“He was outstanding, he did everything you could ask of him. He was a matchwinner as much as Torres, because they couldn't cope with his passing and movement.
“It was a terrific performance and it showed why the manager invested so much money in him. I went to Robbie afterwards and I told him that.
“We got in the dressing room and I sat by him, and I just said: ‘you were magnificent’, because he deserves that praise for such a great, unselfish performance.
“It is all you can ask from a player that he gives everything for the team, and wins the game for you.
“For all of our team, Robbie is doing his job perfectly, and we'll settle for that every time.”
Of Keane’s goal drought, Gerrard added: “Look, it is everyone else talking about Robbie's need to score, not us.
“That doesn't matter in the slightest for us, because he has been a match winner without scoring. His passes for the two goals were from the top drawer, they were exactly what we are looking for from him.
“We know there will still be talk about goals until he gets his first, but believe me, a goal is just around the corner for him.
“And when it comes, the first one will be the most important, because you just know he'll go on a run and get a whole load of goals.
“The lad is quality, you can see that, and you can see how intelligent a footballer he is.
“When he scores, it will just be the start, but I think it's pretty clear he is doing his job already.”
Two goals from Fernando Torres inside three second-half minutes gave the Anfield outfit a 2-0 win at Goodison in the 208th meeting between the Merseyside rivals.
Keane was instrumental in both goals, providing a perfect cross for Torres’s opener and then heavily involved in the build-up to the Spaniard’s second.
The Republic of Ireland international is still awaiting his first goal for Rafael Benitez’s side since his near £20m transfer from Tottenham Hotspur in the summer.
But skipper Gerrard revealed the praise that Keane received in the dressing room for his efforts in ensuring Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season.
“I know that Nando was class and showed how deadly he can be, but I still believe that Robbie Keane was an equally genuine contender for the man of the match award,” said Gerrard.
“He was outstanding, he did everything you could ask of him. He was a matchwinner as much as Torres, because they couldn't cope with his passing and movement.
“It was a terrific performance and it showed why the manager invested so much money in him. I went to Robbie afterwards and I told him that.
“We got in the dressing room and I sat by him, and I just said: ‘you were magnificent’, because he deserves that praise for such a great, unselfish performance.
“It is all you can ask from a player that he gives everything for the team, and wins the game for you.
“For all of our team, Robbie is doing his job perfectly, and we'll settle for that every time.”
Of Keane’s goal drought, Gerrard added: “Look, it is everyone else talking about Robbie's need to score, not us.
“That doesn't matter in the slightest for us, because he has been a match winner without scoring. His passes for the two goals were from the top drawer, they were exactly what we are looking for from him.
“We know there will still be talk about goals until he gets his first, but believe me, a goal is just around the corner for him.
“And when it comes, the first one will be the most important, because you just know he'll go on a run and get a whole load of goals.
“The lad is quality, you can see that, and you can see how intelligent a footballer he is.
“When he scores, it will just be the start, but I think it's pretty clear he is doing his job already.”
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