Sky Sports pundit Stuart Pearce insists Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard will leave English football with his reputation intact at the end of the season.
Gerrard’s dream exit of playing his last game for the Reds on his 35th birthday in the FA Cup final at Wembley was ended in the 2-1 semi-final defeat to Aston Villa at the same venue.
The England international, with 114 caps for his country, departs Anfield at the end of the campaign to play in Major League Soccer for Los Angeles Galaxy.
In his 17 years as a first-team player for Liverpool, Gerrard won the Champions League, UEFA Cup, the FA Cup twice and the League Cup on three occasions.
Although Gerrard’s hopes of bowing out on a high with a victory over Arsenal were dashed on Sunday, Pearce believes the player will be remembered for the success he has achieved.
Speaking on the Morning View on Sky Sports News HQ, Pearce said: “I think the romantic in all of us would have liked to have seen him play in an FA Cup final and lift the trophy for Liverpool. Football is a hard-nosed profession, it’s not like that.
“The one thing you do know about Steven Gerrard when he finishes his time in English football, he’s been a Premier League legend, he’s been an English legend both at club and country level and he’s lifted the Champions League for his club.
“He’s done everything. He’s captained England with aplomb to be fair to him, and he’s been a complete legend.
“However he finishes this season is irrelevant, he is what he is. Steven Gerrard is a complete legend and icon of English football.”