COMMENT: Enough with Steven Gerrard. Enough with the icon. Saturday was a whitewash. The emotion of Stevie's final Anfield game allowed his teammates, the manager, the chairman, the lot of 'em to duck scrutiny.
What should have been a rousing farewell, full of goals and passion was a whimper. Gerrard deserved better. And not just during the 90 minutes.
The ho-hum, shrug of the shoulders reaction from Brendan Rodgers said it all in the post-match. Where was the passion? The anger? Liverpool should be hammering Crystal Palace - especially on a landmark day like Saturday.
Even the Boot Room couldn't raise a yelp. The two Jamies, Carragher and Redknapp, plus Graeme Souness, excused the performance. Carragher even claimed Gerrard's departure would be good for those 'living in his shadow'. Amongst all this, the Gerrard tributes flowed, masking the surrender we'd just witnessed. Liverpool shouldn't be beaten by Palace at Anfield - let alone for the farewell game of the club's greatest. It's pitiful.
But this was no one-off. The team which thrilled us last season is gone. And on Saturday's performance, never to return. The long march of Gerrard's farewell has been in lock step with the demise of this Liverpool team. But you wouldn't know it. The Gerrard accolades have papered over it. Just look at the FA Cup semifinal. Aston Villa, with relegation a reality at the time, played Liverpool off the pitch. It was the players' one big chance to deliver Gerrard a fitting farewell. They talked about it going into the game. They're great talkers this Liverpool team...
Steven Gerrard should not be leaving Liverpool. Do you really believe Jose Mourinho would've allowed this to happen?
Yes, Gerrard's had his form slumps. But you dig in and rise again. Just ask Mourinho and John Terry at Chelsea.
Or what about Andrea Pirlo at Juventus? Or Ryan Giggs? United fans were barracking him in his early 30's, but he transformed his game and was being celebrated when he hit 35. There's countless examples of players, in their 30s, not only getting beyond a bad patch, but emerging to produce the best football of their career. Why couldn't Liverpool and Rodgers afford Gerrard the same opportunity?
And please, don't argue that a contract was offered and he turned it down. Of course, Gerrard is going to reject such a huge pay-cut - he's the biggest show in town. There is no-one in Liverpool's locker room who is close to his commercial value. Put Gerrard on the plane to Singapore or Malaysia and wherever he lands the fans will turn out in their droves. Who else in a Reds shirt is capable of that? Raheem Sterling? Daniel Sturridge? No chance.
Even if it was planned that Gerrard's contribution would be tailored back, his contract should still be reflecting what he contributes off the pitch.
Rodgers has complained that Liverpool struggle to compete with London clubs as a destination for potential signings. And, in the case of Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez, this was with the Champions League. But what about now? And without the influence of Gerrard? What is the attraction? It's no secret that Gerrard, upon hearing a potential signing was hesitating, would get on the phone and urge the prospect to "come and play with me". That went for junior targets, right up to seniors. But now that's all out the window.
On Saturday, it was Gerrard Liverpool were turning to for inspiration. Who will drive the dressing room now? Where are the winners inside Rodgers' squad? For all the Luis Suarez money he spent last summer, is there anyone capable of just a bleedin' spark?
