Gerrard on the coaching bug, LFC-City and his future plans

Having returned to Liverpool to take up the role of Academy coach early in 2017, the iconic former Reds captain took charge of the club’s U18s side at the beginning of this season.

It has been a productive and educational maiden step in the dugout.

“I’ve grown so much in so many aspects,” Gerrard told JOE.co.uk.

“Being on the pitch every day has aided my confidence in terms of delivering sessions. I’ve taken in as much as I can over the past year from as many people as I can. Being around driven, quality coaches at Kirkby has certainly helped and encouraged me.

“I feel like I’m a man on the move. I don’t want to stand still for very long. I want to progress, I want to improve and I want to keep testing myself.

“There’s no timescale on this, but I certainly want to coach at the top. Whether that happens in one, two, three, four years is hard to predict, but it’s definitely in my thinking. I’m really hungry and I’m going to make sure I continue to move forward in the right way.”

Gerrard is in a fortuitous position when it comes to learning.

Up at Melwood, the Englishman can seek the counsel of first-team boss Jürgen Klopp. At the Academy base in Kirkby, director Alex Inglethorpe and the rest of the staff are sounding boards. Knowledge acquired from those he worked under as a player has been compiled in his mind.

But nothing teaches you quicker than the real experience. “I have a completely different perspective of the game,” he continued.

“When I watch now, it’s not about what’s happening on the surface. I focus on shape, identifying what strategies are in place all over the pitch and how each side are trying to ensure it’s their plan that dictates the match.

“I want to understand the reasons for everything that’s happening – substitutions, positioning, pressing triggers – and I can now appreciate the level of thinking that goes into it all.

“There are so many new experiences, lessons and tests. I’m picking up on stuff continuously, I’m making mistakes, I’m doing things well, I’m working on the things I can do better.

“It’s been eye-opening and very rewarding. I feel quite blessed to have the environment of support and encouragement that I do at the Academy as I keep growing in the role and using any opportunity I can to progress my knowledge.”

A seamless start saw Gerrard’s U18s team reach February without a defeat in league football.

As the turn of the year brought changes at each youth level – several of his squad graduating to Neil Critchley’s U23s group, for example – the challenge grew.

The young Reds were narrowly eliminated from the FA Youth Cup by Arsenal at Anfield. More heartbreak followed in the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals as Manchester City proved cooler from the penalty spot.

Every loss is bitter. But, on reflection, every loss is a learning process, too.

“My job is to help develop these young men, to help them progress as players and people,” said the Scouser.

“A winning culture is a big part of what I want to create, but so is learning and growing from every situation – whether it is a loss or something that has worked quite well, just as is the case throughout the Academy and at Melwood.

“The journey we had in Europe will do the boys a world of good. They’re so fortunate to have the opportunity to test themselves against the best on the continent and to understand from so young what it’s like to compete in a big competition like this.

“I wasn’t lucky enough to have it as a kid, but feel grateful to have experienced it as a youth coach. I think everything we’ve been through – even losing on penalties in the quarters to Man City despite doing more than enough to win the game – will be hugely beneficial to each individual. I’ve certainly taken a lot from it.”

That European meeting with City will be replicated at senior level next month, with Klopp’s charges set to face Pep Guardiola’s Premier League leaders in the Champions League last eight.

With Liverpool’s thrilling 4-3 victory over the Manchester club in January still fresh in the mind, the tie is a mouth-watering prospect for all football fans.

Not least Gerrard.

The 37-year-old added: “It’s the kind of unmissable match you genuinely get enthusiastic about and can learn so much from.

“It’s top-class footballers looking to go toe-to-toe with each other in a very dominant, attacking style under two hugely respected managers who have very clear philosophies.

“It’s an exciting draw for both teams and both will believe they can progress through to the semis. We’ve seen some amazing games of football between them recently, and from a neutral point of view, I think it’s a 50-50 tie: City have shown their unbelievable quality this season and Liverpool have proven they can better any team in a game – including City.

“Now from a biased point of view, I’ve got every confidence that Jürgen Klopp and the team can deliver over both legs because they’ve shown they can do it. The manager’s got a great record in Europe, he knows Pep Guardiola well, and the opposition inside out.”