The article in these pages last week calling for Steven Gerrard to be relieved of the Liverpool captaincy would have provoked great debate on Merseyside, but raised another issue that always seems to crop up whenever Gerrard plays, and that is: What is his best position.

Many pundits, both media and television, argue that they prefer to see him in a central midfield role, while there is a school of thought that suggests he performs more effectively on the wide right.

What isn’t in doubt is his whole-hearted endeavour for both Liverpool and his country whether it be foraging around in midfield or making that devastating break wide and delivering a telling cross.

Last season was not only Liverpool’s best under manager Rafa Benitez, but also Gerrard’s as the club gave Manchester United a right fight for second place behind Chelsea and won the FA Cup – not forgetting the European Super Cup either.

So what is Gerrard’s best position? Benitez does have a problem in that he has three fine central midfield players in Gerrard, Xabi Alonso and Momo Sissoko and in my opinion it makes good sense to use Gerrard on the right, leaving Alonso and Sissoko to mastermind midfield. Of course, injuries play a part and there is inevitably some switching and changing around to be done, as is the case with Sissoko out at present.

Benitez has taken so much unwarranted stick, especially after the odd defeat, but don't all managers take that? Whenever Manchester United lose a game Sir Alex Ferguson is “too old and should quit right now,” yet he has guided United to eight Premiership titles during his reign.