Yaya Toure has hailed reported Liverpool transfer target Jude Bellingham’s goal for England against Iran.
Bellingham, who is top of Liverpool’s wish-list right now, scored England’s first goal of the tournament with a lovely looping header. And, writing for The Athletic, Manchester City legend Toure says the strike reminded him of Steven Gerrard.
“Bellingham’s goal against Iran showed his unselfish running to create space,” wrote the player-turned-coach. “Early in the move, he makes a run that is very dangerous. You see the space — Iran’s defence has stopped and the run is brilliant. If the ball is played through, he isn’t offside.
“But he doesn’t stop there. He comes back in. Harry Maguire can pass straight through to Mason Mount and England have three players against two Iran defenders
“The ball goes to the left side and it’s a lack of communication in the Iran defence, but Bellingham gets himself into the right position at the right moment. Even if the cross is lower, the defender is in trouble.
“The goal reminds me of Gerrard, Lampard, Scholes; maybe more Scholes — big players who smell a chance, see the gap in a defence and just go into it. These types of players force opponents to not just worry about the forwards. They have to worry about Bellingham too, because his running from the second line is brilliant.”
Bellingham takes us back in time
As a self-confessed Steven Gerrard superfan, this will be music to the ears of Bellingham. The 19-year-old’s love of the Liverpool icon is one of the reasons Reds fans are feeling confident of his signing.
Gerrard himself has also spoken highly of the youngster on several occasions. Whether that’s a deliberate ploy by Stevie to lure Bellingham to Anfield, only he knows.
But, looking at the styles of the two players, you can see where the comparisons come from. Both are direct runners with the ball, all-action in terms of being involved in both boxes and can score goals.
The two players are similar in that they both have clear leadership qualities and often put their teams on their back in search of a result.
Also, watching Bellingham’s goal back, there is a clear and obvious comparison to a very famous Stevie G goal.
You know the one we’re talking about, surely? Only on this one, the crosser was John Arne Riise, not Luke Shaw. And the setting? Not Doha but Istanbul, of course.
Gerrard rose highest to loop home a delicate header over Dida to make it Liverpool 1-3 AC Milan on May 25th 2005. The rest, so they say, is history.
Still yet to turn two at the time, Bellingham will have no recollection of that particularly iconic Gerrard goal. But no doubt he’ll be delighted to hear the comparison all the same.
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