You get the feeling there are fewer people less happy to be living in Hollywood than Steven Gerrard.
While Liverpool's legendary midfielder admits that he is enjoying a chance to stroll around anonymously in the city he plays football in, you imagine he is sitting beneath the California sun with the trademark Gerrard Existential Brood, with brow furrowed above an envious glance towards rainy Liverpool. Rarely has the taking of a self-imposed exile felt so selfless.
Listening to Gerrard's melancholy wish that time did not do what time is wont to do and that he could have enjoyed the reigns of Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp in is prime is as difficult for a Liverpool fan to listen to as it is for Gerrard to ponder.
The strength of Gerrard's residual affection for Liverpool will certainly not be lost on his L.A. Galaxy teammates this weekend. Gerrard revealed in his new Daily Telegraph column that the League Cup final originally clashed with Galaxy's preparation for the second leg of their CONCACAF Champions League tie with Santos Laguna of Mexico.
Gerrard's quandary has been solved, however:
I have to thank my manager Bruce Arena for allowing me to see the game at all. When Liverpool reached the final the first thing I did was check our fixture list, hoping to get to Wembley.
When I told Bruce the kick-off time, he pushed training and our flight to Mexico back an hour on Sunday to ensure I didn't miss it.
Like with every Liverpool match this season, I will be watching but trying to kick every ball. I will feel like I have played.
Remarkable. Elsewhere in the column, Gerrard is mightily kind to Jurgen Klopp, who he claims can be the difference for Liverpool. Klopp responded in his press conference this afternoon that he had paid Gerrard a hundred pounds to say it.
While we doubt the veracity of Klopp's claim, he will undoubtedly have to watch Sterling more carefully at Wembley. Klopp might be able to influence the game, unlike Gerrard. A fact that Gerrard may be haunted by forever.
