EPL Monday: Steven Gerrard Says Goodbye; Cesc Fabregas Gets An Early Start on His Summer Vacation

Welcome to the penultimate EPL Monday of 2014-15. The next time you see it we’ll be wearing Los Angeles Galaxy colors. Wait, that’s Steven Gerrard …

On Gerrard: Theoretically, in a perfect world Steven Gerrard’s last league game (there will be future ££££/$$$ testimonials, reckon) would have ended with him scoring a winning goal from about 25 yards out and being raptured up into Soccer Heaven. Obviously that can’t happen, nor did it. Crystal Palace came to Anfield and won 3-1.

As much as a happy, dramatic ending would have fit Gerrard, a loss at home to the visiting Eagles through Jason Puncheon, Wilfried Zaha et al also served a decent summation of the last couple years of his tenure with the Reds. There is nothing Liverpool’s worldwide support — and Gerrard himself — wanted more than the club’s first English title since the formation of the Premier League in 1991. The closest the Reds came was last season, when a crucial Gerrard slip-up vs. Chelsea (and ensuing defeat at Selhurst Park) allowed Manchester City to overtake then. Sports are often unfair and cruel like this — call it the yin to the yang of the Miracle in Istanbul.

The best way to look at Gerrard over the course of his career is he was a consistently excellent, week-in, week-out player to build around, who helped Liverpool win nearly every trophy except the Premier League itself. In recent times Liverpool’s best two finishes (2nd place in 2008-09 and 20013-14) came when Gerrard had plenty of help in the goal-scoring deparment. When Rafa Benitez was in charge there was Fernando Torres and Dirk Kuyt combining for 26 goals (Gerrard finished with a team-high 16). Last season Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge combined for a mind boggling 52 goals. If we go back to Liverpool’s other second place finish this century in 2001-02, when Gerrard still wore No. 17 mind, Michael Owen scored 19 times.

Long story short, Gerrard’s final game at Anfield might have finished on a brighter note for the home side if Brendan Rodgers had a viable backup plan after Sturridge’s injuries. Either way, the sight of Gerrard in a Los Angeles Galaxy jersey next month will be odd. How much of his heart is going to be in it? I’d imagine every English soccer writer already has a Gerrard short-term January loan saved in their drafts, right?

On De Gea…: Reports from Europe make it sound like a mere formality that Manchester United goalie David De Gea is bound for Real Madrid this summer. The 24-year-old Spanish keeper left Sunday’s game with Arsenal due to injury and was replaced by Victor Valdes.

Losing a player of De Gea’s caliber — arguably the team’s best player this season — is a loss, true. By the same token if you’re a team with Manchester United’s prestige and ambition, when your keeper is considered your best performer, that’s not necessarily a positive development. (Counterpoint: Germany won the World Cup in 2014 and its best performer was Manuel Neuer, but that’s a seven-game tournament vs. a 38-game season.)

With a game to go, De Gea is credited with 93 saves. For comparison QPR’s Robert Green has the most in the EPL with 132 and his team was relegated last weekend. Among the Top Four, Chelsea’s Thibaut Courtois and Petr Cech have a combined 81. Arsenal’s David Ospina and Wojciech Szczęsny have 85 combined. Manchester City’s Joe Hart and Wily Caballero have 89 combined. Saves as a state can be misleading. Sure it’s nice to have a keeper who can make a lot, but ultimately it means your defense is allowing a lot of shots.

Manchester United will be back in the Champions League. Sunday vs. Arsenal, it played Phil Jones and Chris Smalling in defense. De Gea no doubt helped United get back to the Champions League, especially with his play early in the year, but a keeper can be replaced and United have the resources. At the highest level, you want a keeper who makes good decisions, can distribute the ball from the back and isn’t prone to massive errors.

Finding an adequate replacement for De Gea to replicate, say, 85 percent of his ability will be doable. Figuring out a system where United does not leave so much room for opponents to find holes in the defense will be far trickier, especially if the potential new keeper isn’t as adequate as De Gea was covering for them time after time.

On relegation…: It’s down to Sunderland (37 points, game in hand), Newcastle United (36 points) and Hull City (34 points) for the final team to go down to the Championship. Sunderland  drew Leicester City at home, which capped the Foxes remarkable journey from the bottom to survival. The Magpies went up 1-0 at QPR and lost 2-1, while Hull lost at Tottenham thanks in part to Danny Rose’s excellent goal. Hull’s only shot is beating Manchester United on Sunday and hoping neither of the other two teams pick up any points. The Tigers would likely have a goal differential advantage vs. both clubs in the event of a tie.

All that needs to be said of relegation is Aston Villa lost 6-1 to Southampton — Sadio Mane offered up the quickest hat trick in league history — and still managed to ensure top flight safety. The Barclay’s Premier League, ladies and gentleman!

Early vacation: West Brom hosted Chelsea Monday afternoon. The game meant essentially nothing, but produced this funny moment in the first half. Diego Costa tangled with the West Brom defense, earning a yellow card and a bunch of complaints. While the players swarmed the ref, Cesc Fabregas decided to kick the ball into the pack — striking Chris Brunt in the head.

Fabregas gets an early start on his summer thanks to a straight red card. Smart?

Goals of the Week:

That is a stunner from QPR’s Leroy Fer. Wonder if his old club, Norwich City, would want to welcome him back if it wins the promotion playoff vs. Middlesbrough this weekend?

Saido Berahino offered up this strike vs. Chelsea on Monday that’s worth a watch, too.

Stats of the Week:

I guess it’s good to be in the record books for something …

Save of the Week:

Joe Hart offered up this stunning stop vs. Swansea City on Sunday.

Looking ahead: 

Wednesday Arsenal plays Sunderland in a game that matters for both teams. If Arsenal win (or draw) the Gunners secure at least third place, meaning Manchester United falls to fourth and will gets a Champions League playoff in August. Sunderland clinches safety from relegation with a win or a draw. Depending on the results of this could mean only the Hull City-Manchester United and Newcastle United-West Ham United have any significance on Sunday.

[Images via Getty]