Gerrard was generally a single digit scorer at his age, he's already got 3 this year in 10 appearances and I personally thought he did stamp his game on two average teams. He most certainly did stand out in that game as one of the few players with genuine quality on the ball in what overall was an extremely low quality derby.
This could turn out to be correct, potential isn't realised time and again, personally I see him developing into at least a top quality international and possibly world class.
If goals scored equate to class, then trophies must trump that. Gerrard at 20/21 won the UEFA, FA and League cup and was awarded the PFA young player of the year. Of course, goals don't necessarily equate to how much class a player has, and likewise trophies, ala Djimi Traore.
Never the less, Gerrard was still pivotal in his very early years to help LFC achieve a treble winning season, but it was plain as the nose of your face that Gerrard had the ability and determination to be a world class player. Barkley has some good traits but even with probably a better technique can't/doesn't influence a game of football like Gerrard did at 21.
Yesterday's game, for a potential, hyped player was the perfect opportunity for Barkley to step-up. And the match was bang average in terms of quality and Barkley couldn't have had a better opportunity to make more of a name for himself. In the first half, he barely got into the game, and was overshadowed by his opposite number Coutinho. The second half, the roles reversed and he saw more of the ball, a bit more swagger and a nice flick here and there but nothing of quality that was detrimental to us, or influential product. That game was calling out for a star and not one single person on that pitch stepped up. Gerrard in his pomp or at (21) would have had way more influence on that game than a superficial Barkley who again, failed to live up to the hype.
Barkley may progress a bit with age but he won't suddenly wake up one morning and magically be world class, it doesn't happen like that in football, it's from the get-go you that you know there is something special about a player. And while Barkley has good technique he hasn't worked out how to influence a game properly and consistently with the ability he does have.
We'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Good player, with the potential to be a very good player but as it stands IMO, he's over hyped.
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