Some of the most surprising paper talks from this summer featured Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard being linked with a move to Everton.
The boyhood Liverpool fan and Rangers head coach was linked with a managerial move to Goodison Park to manage Liverpool’s city rivals – in what was one of the most unexpected rumours to come out all summer.
It did not eventually work out though, and instead, it was the former Liverpool boss Rafael Benítez who took charge this summer.
Even though the rumours did not materialize to anything, Gerrard still made it a point to knock down the Everton links – as he commented on both the rumours and the Benítez appointment in a recent interview with Mark Ogden on ESPN FC.
When asked about his thoughts on both the links and the appointment, Gerrard commented that Benítez’ decision was understandable as he is not a “Red through and through” – not being born in the city, his wish to manage a top Premier League club could only be fulfilled by Everton and hence it was a professional decision.
Gerrard mentioned that he was not very shocked at Benitez’ decision, but the rumours linking him to Everton took him by surprise.
It is quite a different scenario for the former Liverpool skipper to make the move across Stanley Park – after being born in Liverpool, coming up through the ranks at Liverpool, and going on to become one of the best players to ever have played at Anfield.
The former English midfielder added that even though he does not know from where the speculation originally stemmed, he could confirm that it was “never a possibility as far as he was concerned.”
Gerrard is a Red through and through, and even being associated with their eternal city rivals is not a thought that he would entertain at any cost.
Steven Gerrard on why he can never manage Everton and what he thinks of Rafa Benitez taking charge at Goodison Park.. pic.twitter.com/X0GgqehDKP
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) July 23, 2021
