Steven Gerrard is quite arguably Liverpool's finest ever player. A footballer who epitomises everything good about the club and has captain his boyhood side to five major titles. Now, with only a matter of months left in Gerrard's Liverpool career, he could actually find himself struggling to fight his way into the team for his final few matches. About to return from a hamstring injury, the Reds' skipper has seen his side hit an incredible run of form in his absence, with other midfielders really stepping up to the plate. So could these be signs that Liverpool are now better off without their departing hero?

First of all, there is Steven Gerrard as a player. For years, Gerrard was a dynamic, box-to-box midfielder with every tool required to play his role to the highest level. In more recent years, Brendan Rodgers has converted his captain into a deep-lying midfielder, in charge of controlling the tempo of games. Last season this worked brilliantly. Liverpool's diamond formation allowed Gerrard to sit back and control the game, whilst giving creative freedom to Luis Suarez, Daniel Sturridge, Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Sterling. However, in this campaign Liverpool have adopted a new style of play, and a new structure. Now playing a 3-4-3, Liverpool's central midfielders are required to do a lot more pressing. Perhaps a 25 year-old Steven Gerrard would prevail in this role, but now aged 34, he can't put in the same workrate that Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen have done recently. Rodgers has also tried to fit Gerrard in as one of the wider forwards in the front 3. Although this did see slight improvements in his performance level, he still didn't offer the side the same fluidity of movement of Philippe Coutinho and Adam Lallana. Having been sidelined for Liverpool's last three games, the Liverpool captain has seen his side come out with three very impressive victories. In fact, Liverpool have won every Premier League game this season that Gerrard hasn't featured in. Steven is unlucky that so many of his team mates have found form at a time when he has been in and out of the side with injuries, and this could result in him taking a less key role between now and his grand farewell in May.

The other aspect to Steven Gerrard is the leader. Now in his 11th season as Liverpool captain, Gerrard is widely regarded as one of the games greatest ever skippers. Countless times has the lad from Huyton dragged his club to glory almost on his own. Replacing his leadership quality is definitely seen as the main part of Gerrard's game that Liverpool need to replace. With such a young squad and no real identifiable leaders, it would seem that Liverpool need Gerrard in their side at least until the summer. Vice-captain Jordan Henderson has taken the armband in recent weeks, and has done a fine job in leading Liverpool to some huge results, including a win against Champions Manchester City last Sunday. Liverpool are yet to lose a game that Henderson has captained them in, however this could once again be as much down to the side's recent improvement in form as it has been to Henderson's qualities in captaining the side. There is also a difference between being a good captain and a good leader. As a captain, Henderson leads on the pitch by leading by example. His work-rate and performance level inspires his team mates. Gerrard on the other hand is an incredible leader. He knows exactly what it takes to win big games and trophies. Therefore, even though his contribution on the pitch me on the decline, he will still have a huge part to play as a leader when it gets to the end of Liverpool's top 4 challenge, and a possible FA Cup final.

At the moment, it is there for all to see that Liverpool have been performing better without Steven Gerrard in the side. The intensity and intent in the side's play has returned with the immense form of Joe Allen, and even without their inspirational skipper, they are winning some very big games. So now, with only three months to go in what has been a quite astounding Liverpool career for Steven Gerrard, we may not see a huge amount more of him before he jets of to sunny LA. He will however be contributing as a captain, whether it be in the dressing room or on the field, as he aims to leave on a high and give his beloved Liverpool supporters at least one more reason to sing his name.