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29 March 2024

No Rooney, Lampard, Gerrard? No problem for Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool

Manchester United's Rafael, right, celebrates with fellow first-half goal scorers Shinji Kagawa, left, and Robin van Persie after scoring against Fulham during their English Premier League soccer match at Old Trafford Stadium, Manchester, England, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. (AP)

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By Staff

The new guard is in place. Even if it is new in terms of a change of colour.

Legends are ready to be consigned to where legends should be – inspirational roles, yes, but off the bench (cue Ryan Giggs).

Managers old and new have been rocked out of complacency in their stars thanks to the aggressive posturing of Chelsea and Manchester City.

Quite clearly this could mark a watershed moment in the history of the Premier League.

The moment Manchester United began life without Wayne Rooney and proved successful. Then, perhaps doing an Arsenal and cashing in.

The moment a young Belgian dazzled the Stamford Bridge faithful and benched a dyed-in-Blue Champions League winner. Frank Lampard making way for Eden Hazard.

And, perhaps, most striking of all. A new manager, instructed to revive the most storied club of all. Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, daring to look and plan for a Kop parade without the man they know at Anfield as Captain Fantastic – Steven Gerrard.

Nurin Sahin will pose for Rodgers the same problem that Hazard poses for Roberto Di Matteo at Chelsea and Robin Van Persie poses for Sir Alex Ferguson.

The shape of Liverpool, Chelsea and United have for so long revolved around Gerrard, Lampard and Rooney that the coming of these new players in similar roles does not add, but displaces the old guard.

Di Matteo has been quick to see that and has profited, Hazard downing Newcastle.

Sir Alex has dithered, but will not be in doubt after Van Persie’s superb goal against Fulham (helped by injury to Rooney).

It will be Rodgers’ chance now to dare plan for after (and without) Steven Gerrard.

Of course the real unthinkable will be if the clubs management decided to, in an Arsenal manner of good football business, cash in on these ‘legends’, while they still have a match-winning season left in them.

Or, do they?

Let the games begin.

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