Liverpool, England - The ghost of seasons past continues to haunt Steven Gerrard, the former Liverpool captain and manager. Recent statements and revelations suggest a deep-seated unease regarding player departures that he believes hampered the club's pursuit of silverware. This sentiment appears particularly potent concerning the exits of Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres, events Gerrard identifies as "heartbreaking" and pivotal in denying Liverpool Premier League titles.
The core of Gerrard's reflection centers on player personnel shifts as the primary obstacle to championship success, overshadowing other managerial or tactical considerations. His recent management stint with Saudi club Al-Ettifaq, which concluded earlier this year in January 2025 after just 11 months, appears to have provided him with ample time for contemplation on these past events.
Player Departures as a Decisive Factor
Gerrard, who himself came close to leaving Anfield for Chelsea in 2005, spoke of how the departures of key players like Xabi Alonso and Fernando Torres significantly impacted Liverpool's competitive edge. He suggests that the club failed to adequately replace these talents, a recurring theme in his analysis of Liverpool's struggles to secure league titles during his playing career. This perspective was echoed in a statement made around April 2026, where he voiced his desire for Liverpool to potentially bring back players like Luis Diaz, who left the club less than a year prior.
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"It’s a bit like you’ve won. Jamie Carragher blames Rafa Benitez for Xabi Alonso’s Liverpool exit. Jamie Carragher believes Rafa Benitez’s decision to push for Gareth Barry was a key reason why Xabi Alonso left the club. You’ve won the fight because the player is playing amazing. Then Alonso was in a magnificent season. Steven Gerrard was heartbroken when Xabi Alonso left. Fernando Torres’ move to Chelsea also hurt the Reds legend. Believes the exits stopped them from winning silverware."
The Alonso departure, in particular, is linked by some to management decisions. Jamie Carragher has pointed to Rafa Benitez's pursuit of Gareth Barry as a catalyst for Alonso's exit, suggesting a clash of priorities that ultimately cost Liverpool.
A Career Defined by Regret
Beyond player transfers, Gerrard's career is punctuated by personal regrets, most notably the infamous "slip" against Chelsea in 2014, an event that he admits still haunts him. This moment is intrinsically tied to his overarching regret of never winning the Premier League title with his boyhood club. He has spoken openly about this, describing his mindset after that season as being like his "head was like a box of frogs."
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"Speaking to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard says he ‘should have’ delivered a league title and he thinks about those regrets often. I just deal with them as and when they come up."
Recent Management and Future Outlook
Gerrard's recent departure from Al-Ettifaq in January 2025 was described as a difficult but necessary decision, with the move not working out as planned. This followed his earlier tenure at Aston Villa. Interestingly, just prior to this period of reflection on past Liverpool departures, Gerrard was involved in a conversation with Mohamed Salah in December 2025 regarding the winger's public fallout with then-manager Arne Slot. Gerrard stated he believed Salah's impending exit was "in everyone's best interests," drawing parallels to his own experiences under manager Brendan Rodgers. Salah announced his departure from Liverpool in March 2026.
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"He wanted to play more and play every minute of every game because he was in the position I was in under Brendan. I don't know at what level but he's done the interview which I think he'll regret further down the line. Salah had a public fallout with Arne Slot and the club in December, claiming he had been thrown 'under the bus'. 'I had a similar thing with Brendan,' he added."
This interaction with Salah, occurring less than a year before his own Al-Ettifaq exit, further underscores Gerrard's persistent engagement with Liverpool's internal dynamics, even from afar.
A Club Captain's Dilemma
Gerrard's personal history is deeply entwined with the club. In July 2005, he famously U-turned on a decision to leave Liverpool, pledging his future after a period of intense speculation and fan protests, stating "I could not leave." This demonstrates a profound emotional attachment that contrasts with the pragmatic considerations he now applies to player movements. His near-transfer to Chelsea in 2005, detailed in reports from May 2020 and February 2017, highlights the immense pressure and complex emotions surrounding his career decisions, a situation where his Liverpool captaincy ultimately outweighed any temptation.
