Time to go, captain(ceviri yardımı gerekli)
You must remember the days when Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was the idol of the Kop, a local hero who could do no wrong on Merseyside.
Indeed, had the man who goes by the name of 'Stevie G' toured the streets of Merseyside in one of those armoured vehicles used by the late Pope John Paul II a few months ago, the masses would have turned out acclaiming the great one, to toss flowers in his path.
However, it seems the good will he once took for granted is ebbing away. The talk among Reds fans making their way to Anfield for this game was the time may have come to offload a player who is rapidly being considered high maintenance.
This remarkable transformation in mood among the Anfield faithful is astonishing in its speed, but when you look at the facts, there is some logic behind it.
Gerrard has played in just five of Liverpool's 10 Champions League games en-route to the semi-finals, he tends to pick up injuries at key moments and despite his brilliance when in the side, the constant rumours surrounding his departure is becoming tiresome for all involved.
When last Sunday's newspapers claimed a 'prominent Premiership manager' had let it slip that Gerrard had already signed for Chelsea, the straw on the fictional camel's back may have been snapped.
By the way, Soccernet's Insider can reveal the manager in question was one Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United boss is so furious with the press men who ran the story after he asked them to keep it under their hats that he has banned them from his press conferences for the rest of the season.
Wednesday night's heroic effort in seeing off Juventus in the Champions League added further weight to those who feel Gerrard is an unwanted extra an Anfield. His absence through injury wasn't felt in Turin and a couple of Kopites attending this game were clearly ready to condemn him to yesterday's man.
'I'd take the money from Chelsea, say thanks very much and let him go,' was the verdict of one fan making his way toward Anfield. This stocky little chap didn't have too many detractors shouting him down and his pal even suggested the cash coming into the club may be more beneficial for manager Rafa Benitez than an unhappy captain.
'Look at Benitez's signings,' he said. 'Xabi Alonso, Luis Garcia and Fernando Morientes. If that's the sort of quality he can bring to the club for little or nothing, then I'd love to see what he could do with £35m from selling Gerrard.'
Such words against Gerrard would have been considered blasphemy after Gerrard fired Liverpool into the later stages of the Champions League with his stunning goal against Olympiakos back in December, but the tide appears to have turned.
Our chief subject was back in the Liverpool side after his midweek break for the visit of Tottenham, a fixture that meant so much to both sides. After the glories of Turin, a mundane league game could have passed the Reds by, but qualifying for next season's Champions League remains their primary target and winning this game was essential in that aim.
As for Spurs, they are looking like a side ready to achieve more than mid-table obscurity. Starting this game in seventh place, staying there could be enough to secure UEFA Cup football if Manchester United win their FA Cup semi-final against Newcastle and they are finally a side on the up.
False dawns have been plentiful at White Hart Lane in recent years, but their performance at Anfield suggested they may be able to back up their promise with tangible success this time.
Their opening goal in this game, struck with fearsome power and accuracy from all over 35 yards by Erik Edman in the 12th minute, may just go down as the best of the season and the way they passed the ball around and battled for every loose ball was good to see.
Liverpool dominated for long periods without creating too many chances, but after 44 minutes, Luis Garcia unleashed a stunning equaliser that was almost as eye-catching as Edman's opener.
The talk in the press room at the break was centred around new rumours emanating from Spain suggesting Rafa Benitez had been approached to take over at Real Madrid next season.
Losing their respected manager may be more of a blow to Liverpool than seeing the star player sold for a vast fortune, but those Benitez to the Bernabeu stories refuse to go away.
With the sun beating down on the Anfield turf, the stage was set for the 'Gerrard of old' to take hold of the game, but it was another player likely to make a move this summer who did just that as Robbie Keane restored Tottenham's lead with a 55th minute goal.
Those expressing doubts about Steven Gerrard's Liverpool future had further cause for complaint as he smashed a penalty high and wide a couple of minutes after Keane's strike, but a second equaliser wasn't far away as Sami Hyypia fired home with a solid volley in the 63rd minute.
It was Gerrard who came closest to finding a winner as his shot stuck the woodwork in the dying minutes, but Tottenham had worked hard enough to deserve a draw and coach Martin Jol was a content man as he met the press.
"The first half an hour may be our best football of the season," said the jovial Dutchman. "We silenced the crowd with our performance and the opening goal was something incredible.
'I have never seen a shot from so far out end up in the back of the net. In the end, a draw is probably a good result for us. We are still in a good position and can look to the rest of the season with confidence."
Rafa Benitez wasn't so bullish as he bemoaned his side's lack of cutting edge. "We should have won the game, that is clear," he stated. "When you look at the chances we missed, it's a real shame. The players gave their all, so I cannot criticise them, but I'm disappointed.
"We played with a high tempo, which was a good effort after our match on Wednesday in Italy, but in the end, we couldn't find the crucial goal. Still, we have to carry on trying to get fourth."
Gerrard's miserable day ended with him issuing a public apology to Liverpool supporters after his penalty miss.
"It was my fault we didn't win this game and I want to say sorry to the fans," he said in a TV interview. "Hopefully I get the chance to make up for my mistakes in the remaining games of this season."
It seems inevitable that whatever Steven Gerrard contributes to Liverpool in the next few weeks will be akin to a parting gift.
GERRARD VERDICT: He may not have been 100 per cent fit, but the Liverpool captain seems to have lost the verve that made him such a special player a few months ago. Completing a move to Chelsea may just be the best solution for all concerned.
