Who's best to replace Gerrard as captain?
With Steven Gerrard out for at least a fortnight, the spotlight falls on the coveted armband once more.
In the coming months, candidates will stake their claim for the Liverpool captaincy once Gerrard leaves the club.
The auditions begin against Crystal Palace in the FA Cup tomorrow morning (Singapore time).
Who are the leading contenders?
1 EMRE CAN
Can is a born leader. From ignored to irreplaceable, the German evokes warm memories of Der Kaiser.
Can and Franz Beckenbauer share more than a passport. They share an unshakeable conviction in their playing abilities.
Like Beckenbauer before him, Can cuts an imposing figure. He strides imperiously out of central defence, always comfortable in possession.
Indeed, he bares closer resemblance to Beckenbauer's old rival Bobby Moore. Both men were accused of carrying puppy fat in the early stages of their career.
Moore shed his chubbiness to become a World Cup winner. Can dropped the kilos to carve himself a fixed position in Brendan Rodgers' back three.
For a 21-year-old, his confidence has been infectious. He exudes a natural authority.
Gerrard was a better player at 21, but Can has taken on additional responsibilities. His passing catches the eye. His maturity ensures he's rarely caught in possession.
More importantly, he steps up. He moves forward out of defence in search of a telling pass, a rare quality among Premier League centre backs. That's because he isn't one. A midfielder by instinct, he filled the gap vacated by an injured Gerrard in the 3-2 win over Tottenham in midweek and felt right at home.
He's a promising hybrid between Moore the unflappable defender and Beckenbauer the midfield puppeteer.
Gerrard's hamstring tweak pulled Can into midfield and Liverpool suddenly filled two vacancies in one move.
He's too young to replace a legend, but he's ready to replace a leader. Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe has said as much.
Rodgers refuses to recognise age barriers and Liverpool have a proud history of focusing on performances rather than birth certificates.
Gerrard was 23 when he replaced Sami Hyypia. Experience was less important than timing. It was Gerrard's time.
When he leaves the armband behind for his successor, Can will be hurtling towards his 22nd birthday.
What's 18 months between natural-born leaders?
Should he get the job?
- Rating: 9 out of 10
Chances of getting the job:
- 7 out of 10
2 JORDAN HENDERSON
Henderson is the obvious choice, but he's playing for a manager who rarely follows the rules.
Rodgers favours youth. Henderson is still only 24, but gives the impression of an older, mature man. He's an assured presence in the middle of the park.
Last season, he played both apprentice and water carrier to the ageing master, learning from the legend and mopping up his messes.
But Henderson's performances, though uniformly excellent, were lifted by the indefatigable running of Luis Suarez. The irrepressible Uruguayan made his central midfielders look better.
In the first half of this campaign, however, Suarez's absence and Rodgers' constant recalibrating left Henderson looking rudderless.
He wasn't cut adrift. But he struggled to impose himself in trying circumstances.
While others lost their head, he didn't rise above the fray and take charge. He still turned to Gerrard. He deferred to the man beside him.
Last season, he thrived alongside his skipper. This season, he has still sought guidance when others might have looked to him.
But Can instinctively rouses those around him. Against Tottenham, his influence was magnetic. The play gravitated towards him.
Henderson doesn't dominate games in quite the same way, yet. He might shine once Gerrard's lengthy shadow fades away.
Being the vice-captain, he'll head to the centre circle against Palace tomorrow morning and will stay there until Gerrard returns.
Some might say the captaincy is his to lose. But Rodgers has indicated no clear succession policy and enjoys building sides around youthful enterprise.
Henderson has experience on his side. Can has the charisma. And, when it comes to a battle of mental fortitude between their respective nations, the Germans always win.
Should he get the job?
- Rating: 7
Chances of getting the job:
- Rating: 8
3 MARTIN SKRTEL
He has more experience than Henderson and his animal magnetism leaves Can less menacing than a traumatised kitten.
At 30, the Slovakian (right) should be closing in on his prime and his form in the second half of this season has been phenomenal.
When the Reds last visited Palace last November, their defensive spine was brittle-boned and close to collapse.
Skrtel had chalked up four mistakes before the Palace game. He's made none since.
The brutish, bullet-headed swagger has returned. Liverpool have conceded just 11 goals in the last 13 Premier League games, a huge improvement.
Skrtel has rediscovered his concentration, throwing improved confidence into the bargain. He's no longer performing with the Keystone Cops. But he's not natural skipper material. His temperament and focus are mercurial qualities at the best of times. He must govern his own performances without worrying about the direction of others.
Skrtel doesn't benefit from carrying the burden of others. Distractions do not improve his game. Besides, his recent upturn in fortunes also strengthens the case for Can.
The German's role alongside Skrtel has reined in the rampaging runs and left the Slovakian looking less like Bambi on ice.
The calmest man in Liverpool's back three is also the youngest. Whatever the candidates for captaincy, Can always comes out on top.
"He is young, he is learning his game but, in years to come, I am sure he will progress to be one of them. He is a leader on the pitch and the way he is playing has been fantastic."
- Liverpool assistant manager Colin Pascoe, when asked whether Emre Can is a potential future captain
Should he get the job?
- Rating: 5
Chances of getting the job:
- Rating: 5
THE OUTSIDERS
- Lucas Leiva: Too unsettled at the club
- Adam Lallana: Too infrequently used
- Raheem Sterling: Too young, even by Rodgers' standards
- Rickie Lambert: Too old
- Mario Balotelli: Too mad
Who do you think is the best man to replace Steven Gerrard as the next Liverpool captain?
E-mail your views to npsports@sph.com.sg
Henderson ready to take on more
FIFTH ROUND
CRYSTAL PALACE v LIVERPOOL
(Tomorrow, 1.25am, Singtel TV Ch 111)
Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson has taken on more responsibility since becoming vice-captain this season but may have to accept even more in the coming weeks.
With captain Steven Gerrard likely to be sidelined for up to three weeks with a hamstring problem and Lucas Leiva out for twice that period with a thigh injury, central midfield is starting to look a little light.
Henderson and Joe Allen are likely to start in the middle for the FA Cup fifth-round game at Crystal Palace tomorrow morning (Singapore time).
It is debatable whether Gerrard would have started against Palace anyway but, in his absence, Henderson finds himself having to up his game even more.
"To lose Lucas first was a big blow because he has been outstanding for us since he came into the team as that defensive, holding midfielder," said Henderson.
"Obviously, Stevie (Gerrard) is a big loss, even though it is not as long (as Lucas), but there are some big games coming up that he might not be involved in.
"But it is another chance for people to come in and show what they are made of and slot straight into the team. Hopefully someone can do that.
"Maybe I need to take more responsibility with those two players gone."
There is also the option of moving Emre Can forward from defence, where he has excelled in a back three.
The Germany Under-21 international was signed from Bayer Leverkusen with the intention of using him in midfield, but circumstances dictated he was needed further back and he has not put a foot wrong, so Brendan Rodgers may be reluctant to tinker with that.
"Emre has been outstanding since he came into the team," added Henderson.
"I really think that position has suited him at the right side of the three at centre half.
OUTSTANDING
"He has been outstanding there, especially defensively as a midfielder dropping back and, in driving with the ball, he shows his strength and power going forward."
While Henderson is looking at doing even more in that central area to compensate for injuries, at least he has the benefit of being comfortable in his role, having been used in his favoured position more times this season having previously been accommodated on the right and, occasionally, on the left.
"Wherever I play, I always try to improve, whether that is out wide or through the middle," he added.
"I always give 100 per cent and I know each role I play really well, so it doesn't matter what position I'm in.
"Of course, being in the middle, I am more comfortable and I am enjoying it there." - PA Sport.
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