He is 34, take the sentiment out of it, he just shouldn't start every game and play 90 mins. I think he has to become a squad player and a squad player only
Atm we're super disjointed and square pegs round holes everywhere. At least Sturridge comes back you'd think we'd be far better, but Mario as a lone striker if he gets injured again is worrying. Can't have a bloke that doesn't cover loads of ground playing lone striker. They would fit each other well as a partnership though
If he wants to make Gerrard and Mario work then he needs to change his philosophy on how we play our football. I remember when he first came in and we were supposed to play just like Swansea with pass and move football, english tiki taka. Rodgers though, quickly realised we had players at the club with different attributes and changed his way of playing to a more pressing style of football where we press and attack in waves. It worked wonders.
But with Gerrard aging, Suarez gone and Mario his replacement. The pressing game has kinda gone out the window. So it's either drop Gerrard and figure out someone to come in, I dont think Lucas is the answer there either. Drop Mario and play Sturridge with someone like Borini and try to stick to the pressing tactics. Or change the philosophy and try to work something else out.
The problem with that deep lying playmaker role is that you need experience and good reading of the play. Gerrard has that. You need excellent decision making and excellent passing, Gerrard has those too. But you also need legs and speed. Gerrard has lost that through age. The replacement are probably Lucas who's probably not even quicker than Gerrard and doesnt have the decision making and passing of Gerrard or perhaps Emre Can who doesnt have the passing game or the experience but is quicker and more combative than Gerrard.
The only other option is Joe Allen who might be just too small for the role. Doesnt have the passing ability but is pretty combative.
It's just a lack of options right now.