We spoke before the match about Gerrard potentially playing mind games with regards injuries.
Today I think that come to fruition. Not so much the mind games part, but Gerrard being very smart about who was fit and who wasn’t.
Connor Goldson was a major doubt. He was always going to be. He took a hard one against Hibs but he soldiered on and strolled it today. Apparently he took an injection to play too.
https://twitter.com/Gregco_/status/1079097778628976640
But it was in Gerrard’s protection of Ryan Kent and Scott Arfield where he really played a blinder. Kent was exceptional, particularly in the first half.
He was so technically sound on the ball and Mikael Lustig struggled to cope with him. He might’ve just sent him into retirement when he sent him for the messages with the goal.
Arfield bossed Scott Brown. He really did. He fought for every challenge and when he had the ball the Canadian didn’t waste it. It was strong, powerful, capable stuff from the midfielder. Giving him the Broony was superb as well.
But both players were supposed to be injury doubts. They were supposed to be risks if they played. They were fit, fighting and well up for the battle. Gerrard knew they were playing last week.
Call it mind games, call it smart management, whatever.
But it worked. All three played a blinder.
