AFTER a battling display in the Anfield derby, Kenny Dalglish said of Jay Spearing: “Wee Jay can be really proud of his performance today. Steven Gerrard might not get in now!”

The King was joking but for many it provided food for thought – and a chance to air misgivings about the skipper. Again. Love or hate Gerrard (there’s plenty in each camp) and whatever you consider to be the reasons - injuries, attitude, commitment, luck, age or form - it has not been a great 18 months for the captain of Liverpool Football Club.

As last season played out – and Spearing’s performances and results continued to impress – some fans began to think – and talk - about the unthinkable: Are Liverpool a better side without Gerrard in it? And with Liverpool strengthening in midfield, it appears the people that call the shots think the team needs reinforcements in Gerrard’s favourite position.

For a player that has been so inspirational for the Reds it seems almost blasphemous to consider that Gerrard shouldn’t be in the side. This is after all the man who was voted second only to the King in the club’s 100 Players Who Shook The Kop survey, filled out by more than 110,000 fans.

The official site describes Gerrard as: “Arguably the most complete footballer in the world.” And while many are quick to point out his faults – taking the “Hollywood” option, tactical indiscipline, sulking, quick to turn on team-mates, – there’s plenty the European Cup-winning captain does bring to a side. On his day, he can lift the players and the fans single-handedly, he’s one of the few players Liverpool has had in recent years who can win a game on his own and he puts fear into the opposition.

Among players at least, he’s respected worldwide. Now though, Luis Suarez has joined the ranks and ‘Mr Liverpool’ has competition for his mantle of top billing at Anfield. Gerrard is no longer the be all and end all for the club – the Reds have got more bullets in the chamber these days and the ammunition has been added to over the summer.

But does it mean it’s really time to cast aside what could still be a potent weapon? Some, incredibly, say he should be sold. Others say it’s time for Gerrard to accept that he’s not first choice. Opta Sports added fuel to the fire posting on Twitter: “2.14 - Liverpool have averaged a goal more per PL game without Steven Gerrard this season (14 games) than with him (1.14). Evolution.”

Again, the not too subtle point was that the Reds are better without their captain on the field. As ever though stats – and in particular those limited to 140 characters by Twitter – don’t tell the whole story.

Yes Gerrard celebrated his 31st birthday on May 30. Yes it is entirely fair to say that his best years as a footballer are behind him. But Gary McAllister’s best years in football were behind him when he arrived at Anfield and look at the influence he had in 2001. So put Gerrard out to grass? Sell him? Not for me.

And why is the debate presented in such a black and white manner? Instead of ‘Are Liverpool better without Steven Gerrard?’ shouldn’t it be ‘Couldn’t Liverpool be even better with Steven Gerrard?’.

It seems some are desperate to see the back of him. It is that because he nearly left for Chelsea? Is it because he’s perceived by some to have a selfish attitude? Is it because some don’t like what he wears, what he says or how he does his hair? More importantly, does any of that matter in the grand scheme of things and are any of the other players at Liverpool subject to such judgements?

By in large, Liverpool are playing confident, attacking football under Dalglish – the style and results are easily the best they’ve been for two years, if not more. And the Reds, as Dalglish pointed out, can no longer be labelled a two-man team (the pairing of Fernando Torres and Gerrard was responsible for 39 per cent of Liverpool’s league goals in 2008-09 and 44 per cent in 2009-10).

But with Torres and his lip packed off to Chelsea in January and Gerrard largely a spectator in the season just gone, defenders have found themselves with other threats to worry about. There’s the skill and workrate of Suarez, the forward line battering ram that is Andy Carroll, the tireless Dirk Kuyt. Even Maxi Rodriguez made a contribution after disappearing so often in a Liverpool shirt it prompted John Aldridge to describe him as “the invisible man”.

It’s a fair bet those match-winning options will have increased further by the time the new season kicks off but Gerrard could still be one of them, especially now that Liverpool are playing a style that puts the emphasis on attacking. To those writing him off, I would say: What are you basing your judgement on? Gerrard has figured just six times since the return of the King. Liverpool won four of those games, two being the victories over Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Manchester United at Anfield.

Huyton’s finest was said to have been lucky to have made it on the field against United because of his injury, but no-one can fault his display at Chelsea. The skipper has only taken to the field with Suarez three times, while he’s played alongside Carroll for just 16 minutes, when the big man made his debut as a substitute in the win over United.

If Gerrard were to trot the famous Mark Twain quote: “The report of my death was an exaggeration” no-one could blame him. He made just 21 appearances in the season just gone, scoring four goals. But there were still some good performances – Arsenal, Napoli, Chelsea and Manchester United for starters. For some though, the argument isn’t just whether he is capable of cutting it anymore, it’s his influence and effect on the other players around him.

While on many occasions that has been positive, it would be ridiculous to ignore the counter argument Wherever you stand on Gerrard, there is no denying the ‘McManaman effect’ his presence has had in the past. Players have seemed all too willing to give Gerrard the ball and rely on him to do something rather than take responsibility themselves.

But is that his fault or is it a by-product of sub-standard players? You certainly wouldn’t expect to see Suarez changing his game to suit Gerrard. Or Carroll. And Lucas is a player transformed these days also. So perhaps that’s all Gerrard needed down the years – a better quality of team-mate, players prepared to pick up the baton.

He’s got that now, but will he still demand (if he ever did) to be played in central midfield? That he did, and a string of other allegations regarding his relationship with Benitez, are perhaps why so many fans have a skewed perception of Gerrard. But talking in purely football terms, would he now best serve Liverpool elsewhere in the team? It’s easy to say he already has.

Gerrard was player of the year in 2006 when he played many games on the right, leaving the tasks of ball winning to Momo Sissoko and of distributing it from the middle to Xabi Alonso. If the hard work in the middle was left to Lucas, Spearing and others, couldn’t Gerrard enjoy a renaissance on the right – or ‘in the hole’?

He won PFA Player of the Year that season playing mainly on the right, and scored 22 goals in 05/06. He bettered that in 2008-09 when Liverpool finished four points off top spot, firing 24 goals, this time playing mainly as the deep-lying striker behind Torres. Benitez said of him: “Steve likes to change positions to be involved in the game. For him, it is better to move around.”

Without the benefit of knowing who else will arrive at Anfield in the summer, as it stands it could be beneficial to Liverpool if Gerrard could adapt to the Alonso role but is that something that is in his make-up?

It remains to be seen. As Benitez suggested, he hasn’t always seemed the most positionally disciplined of players. But he’s certainly still got enough in his locker to beat players and deliver a quality cross from the wings. The type of service a fully-fit Carroll would thrive on.

As for the whispers regarding Gerrard’s attitude, if ever he did question previous managers, it’s doubtful he would dare to treat Dalglish in the same way. He’s got too much respect for the King for that. The only true problem – because let’s be honest, where to play a fit and firing Steven Gerrard isn’t really a problem – is his fitness. Back in 2009, Benitez expressed fears that Gerrard would be plagued by injury for the rest of his career. “He’s got a pain in his groin and he has no power. He cannot kick long balls properly. It’s not too much, but it’s enough that he cannot play comfortably,” he said.

When Gerrard has taken to the field in the last 18 months that’s certainly a criticism that’s often been levelled at him – that he doesn’t let that trademark powerful shot go as much as he used to. Perhaps now the time is right to call it quits with England. Less games, fitter Gerrard, better for Liverpool.

Dalglish himself said he has a tendency to play on regardless of aches and pains. He said: “He has been fantastic and often puts his club, and country, before himself and he has played when maybe he shouldn’t have. He has put his body through the mincer to play and deserves a bit of luck over injuries.

“Hopefully the prolonged break to rest his groin injury will see him return as strong as ever and still the best midfielder in England.”

Walking away from England and a tweaking of his role could see Gerrard continue to be a key man for at least a couple more seasons. A glance down the road to the capital of cotton mills, suicide and shooters tells us Gerrard still has a role to play.

Look at the influence Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs had at Manchester United. They were well past playing every week last season but both wowed Surrey at times with flashes of magic in games. And both helped reinforce the image (illusion) of being a force.

Defenders still fear Giggs, fans still worry when they see him stripped and ready for action. The same applies to Gerrard. So let’s not wish him into the stands just yet. Arsenal have paid a heavy price for not having an experienced head, a player with nous, one who knows how to both win a game and see out a win (as opposed to giving away a penalty in injury time after scoring one seconds earlier).

We might be rebuilding, but we still need solid foundations. A fit and mentally tuned-in Gerrard is just that.

This interview first appeared in issue eight of Well Red. Issue nine is available to buy now - click here.