I was 'devastated' when Xabi Alonso left Liverpool for Real Madrid - Steven Gerrard

By Adithya Ananth

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard has revealed that he was "devastated" when Xabi Alonso left the club to ply his trade with Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid.

The Basque midfielder moved to the Bernabeu during the summer after five seasons at Anfield, and not a few have attributed the Reds' recent nosedive to his absence.

When asked how he felt about Alonso's departure, Gerrard told FourFourTwo magazine: "Devastated. But there was nothing I could do about it.

"Xabi said a long time ago that he wanted another chapter in his career and finally he got it and his team-mates and the coaches couldn't stand in his way.

"We just have to say thanks and move forward without him."

The Merseysiders sold Alonso for fee of around £30 million, and splurged most of the proceeds on bringing in Alberto Aquilani from Roma.

The new arrival has only recently recovered from injury, and Gerrard - who had a near-telepathic understanding with Alonso - believes that it will take some time for the Reds to move on without the midfield maestro.

"It's always going to be different when you lose one of the best players in the world - and people are finally realising that's what he is, on the back of his form for Real Madrid and the difference in us from last year," he said.

"We've got other midfielders here doing a good job but it will take a while before Alonso's out of our system because he was such a top player."