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LONDON. — Steven Gerrard will be a Liverpool icon.

Of that there is no doubt.

The man who almost single-handedly guided the Reds to Champions League glory in 2005 deserves his place in the rich pantheon of Anfield greats.

With Liverpool trailing 3-0 at half-time to AC Milan at the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, it was Gerrard’s will and desire which lifted his team from potential worldwide embarrassment to a night of legend.

Istanbul was merely the tip of the iceberg in terms of occasions when the midfielder brought about such a change of fortunes for Liverpool.

His goal against West Ham United in the 2006 FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and the winning strike against Olympiacos en route to Istanbul also stand as iconic moments in the history of the club.

However, times change.

After his infamous slip against Chelsea, allowing Demba Ba to open the scoring in a victory for the Blues that would ultimately give Manchester City fresh impetus in the Premier League title race, the writing was on the wall.

Gerrard was not blamed for the loss of the title, but his star has waned since the start of the current campaign.

The once-proud totem of the Liverpool team was losing its shine rapidly as Liverpool and Brendan Rodgers struggled to replicate the success of last term.

The loss of Luis Suarez was a bitter blow to the Merseyside club, and the absence of the Uruguay international has been keenly felt.

Even after scoring twice from the penalty spot to give Liverpool a two-goal lead against Leicester on New Year’s Day, it was Gerrard who began to be questioned.

It was a similar story to what had happened throughout the season as Gerrard’s role in the first team came under scrutiny.

At 34, the former England international was deemed to be past his prime. It appeared to be a sad end to a glorious career.

Now, Gerrard has decided enough is enough for his playing career at Anfield. Whichever club he ends up at will benefit from his experience, but it gives both the player and the club a chance to look to the future.

Whether Liverpool can replace Gerrard remains to be seen, but the player has made the wisest choice possible for the club he loves and himself. — Bleacher Report.