Now the shackles really are off and the message for Liverpool and England could not be clearer: Steven Gerrard is at his most potent breaking from central midfield.
Sunday Telegraph
Superb Gerrard makes points
It annoys Rafael Benitez that Liverpool stories are often all about Steven Gerrard, but putting the protagonist at the centre of a narrative is always hard to avoid.
Sunday Times
Gerrard's rhythm from heart of midfield revives Liverpool
No wonder Manchester City supporters sing about Blue Moons. Their team win on their travels about as often as an appearance by the astronomical phenomenon and yesterday they duly lived down to expectations. Expect the Sky Blue faithful to pen a ditty about hell freezing over in the near future.
Independent on Sunday
Gerrard breaches City's defences to lift limp Liverpool
Steven Gerrard capitalised on a rare mistake by Manchester City's massed defensive ranks to settle an uninspiring encounter between two old rivals whose respective seasons hover precipitously at the moment, the promise of anti-climax and disappointment just a couple more bad results away for both.
The Observer