Fernando Torres was melting. Steven Gerrard is melting. Jamie Carragher has almost melted.

So says Simon Kuper, in an indirect way, in his excellent article ‘The Optimal Age To Be An Athlete’.

“Athletes, the general manager at one sports club told me, are like ‘blocks of ice.’ All players are melting. What the club needs to establish is how fast they’re melting, and it must get rid of them before only a puddle of water remains.”

Kuper’s research provides the reason why I believe Steven Gerrard must immediately retire from international football (not that he will), should he wish to remain an integral part of this Liverpool side. In this article, I assess the age, fitness and ongoing potential of the current Liverpool squad; should other big names follow Torres out the door?

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