Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard: They are two midfielders synonymous with English soccer during the Premier League era who are both set to leave for Major League Soccer.
Gerrard will play his final game at Anfield on Saturday and wrap up his Liverpool career away to Stoke City next week before joining the LA Galaxy this summer. Manchester visits Swansea City on Saturday and then hosts Southampton on May 24 in what will be Lampard’s final Premier League match—he is slated to join New York City FC in July.
Lampard, 36, has two years on Gerrard, but he’s enjoyed a better season than his long-time rival and former England teammate.
The Liverpool man has more goals (eight) than Lampard (five), though the majority of Gerrard’s goals have been from the penalty spot. And while Gerrard has floated in and out of Liverpool’s starting lineup and gone through patches where he’s looked from his best, Lampard has been one of Manchester City’s most consistent and reliable performers this season when called upon.
What’s even more remarkable about Lampard this season is that he’s seen far less playing time than Gerrard—the Liverpool captain has played 2,056 minutes of league action, while Lampard has only played 853 minutes, mostly as a substitute.
Still, both Gerrard and Lampard are going to MLS when they still have plenty to offer. They should offer more than just star power to MLS, and it’s not unreasonable to expect them to establish themselves among the best midfielders in the league.
