Former Manchester United and Aston Villa defender Paul McGrath feels Liverpool made sure Steven Gerrard would leave the Premier League this summer.
McGrath wrote in the Sunday World: "One man who has turned his football career around is Steven Gerrard, who has announced that he is leaving Liverpool to head off to LA Galaxy at the end of the season.
"I presume the deal was done now, at Liverpool's behest, so that Gerrard would not become another Frank Lampard and end at a rival club. Chelsea fans must be looking at Frank with astonishment now, saying 'why is he still not with us?'.
"Surely, when the Scouse legend announced he was leaving Anfield, Manchester United and Chelsea, to name but two clubs, must have thought, 'we can get two decent seasons out of him in the big matches'.
"To stop any deal like that gaining traction, the transfer was done very quickly. So Stevie will be playing with our Robbie Keane from July onwards."