Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher are as important to Liverpool FC now as they were when they started out on their sparkling Anfield careers more than a decade ago, according to Gary McAllister.
Injury has restricted Gerrard to just two starts this season, while Carragher has been forced to settle for a place on the subs bench since a calf strain saw him miss two rare games through injury.
But Gary McAllister, who spent two years at Liverpool FC while the sparkling potential of Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher was starting to emerge, does not accept that the influence of the two Scouse hearts of Kenny Dalglish’s squad is starting to wane.
“Now, both, first and foremost, they are big lovers of the club,” declared McAllister.
“I mean in the way they train, the way they represent that club, the way they speak about it. I think it tells you everything, they love it. They love the club, they love the history, the tradition, they love the fans. So Liverpool without these two guys… I just can’t picture it.
“You know when I was there, they were younger players but outstanding, both lovers of the game.
“That’s the thing, they trained as if it was their last training session. They played a game as if it were going to be their last game.
“So I think that was always the thing that always shone through from these guys, they love football. They’re football fans.”
Gerrard and Carragher were both integral to the trophy winning treble landed by Gerard Houllier’s Liverpool FC side in 2001, with McAllister an equally influential catalyst.
Eyebrows were raised when the Scottish international was signed by Houllier at the age of 35, but McAllister’s majestic performances over two seasons saw him safely installed as an Anfield idol.
The Scot made 87 appearances over two seasons, and scored nine goals, including some hugely significant strikes.
And it was McAllister’s free-kick which was headed into his own net by Alaves’ Delfi Geli to land the UEFA Cup and complete that historic Cup treble of 2001.
But McAllister believes that if he had joined Liverpool earlier in his career, when he was at his peak, the Reds might even have captured the ultimate domestic crown.
Speaking while filming for his role in online football game IAMPLAYR, McAllister added: “Well it was the perfect swansong, but yeah, it would have been nice if I had got there in my prime. Because, you know, I went to Leeds in 1990.
“Who knows? If I had gone to Liverpool in 1990 when I was in my prime, Liverpool might not have had to wait so long to win a Championship because I was fortunate enough to win one at Leeds.
“But it’s a fantastic club. It would have been nice to play at Liverpool when I was in my prime but to get there when I was 35 and have two unbelievable seasons it was like a dream.”
As a result of that spell at Anfield McAllister has a particular affinity with Liverpool’s famous old stadium – the evening he buried the decisive UEFA Cup semi-final winning penalty against Barcelona, past a young Pepe Reina, is recalled as one of Anfield’s great European nights.
But he reluctantly accepts that the time is looming when the Reds may have to move on.
“Well the thing is Anfield is such an iconic stadium,” he explained. “I was very fortunate to play in some fantastic European nights.
“You know, Anfield under the lights is unique it’s a fantastic stadium but as much as I am a traditionalist clubs have got to move on.
“I think they’re looking to expand Anfield and that would be the best result for me rather than moving away from Anfield, but if they have to move away it’s just a sign of the times.
“Look at Highbury. That was a wonderful stadium but I think their move to Emirates has worked for them.
“The money they can earn by moving to a bigger and better facility is there for everybody to see.”
McAllister left Liverpool in 2002 to forge a coaching career, and last September left a post with Middlesbrough to become Gerard Houllier’s assistant manager at Aston Villa.
Since leaving Villa Park in the wake of Houllier’s departure he has been out of the game, but is itching to get back.
“It’s what I know, it’s what I’ve done since I left school at 16,” he explained.
“I enjoyed my brief time at Aston Villa. You know if the right opportunity does come along I would jump at it.
“You know that’s just a fact, it’s what I have been brought up to do, it’s what I know it’s what I know best.
“I’ve played over seven hundred games so I would like to put something back in.”
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