As the Premiership enters its last three weeks, midtable sides start losing and looking ahead to the summer, while the bottom sides go on winning streaks and scrap like hell to avoid relegation, except for QPR that is.

For Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, it is the final period of a special 17-year career that has only been in the Premier League. Sunday's game against Chelsea was his last big Premiership match and he marked it with a goal that evened things up for his team in what turned out to be a 1-1 game.

Gerrard has had a mixed ­final Premiership season and at times, one may think he has stayed on too long. There have been mediocre ­moments as well as mirthful ones. It is easy to point to when he came on against Manchester United in the second half in March and was promptly sent off within a minute or last season's infamous slip against Chelsea that led to a goal and an eventual loss that prevented second-placed Liverpool from leading the league.

But Gerrard has enjoyed a strong club career and the good times have been plenty. He has won multiple trophies including the Champions League and the UEFA, FA and League Cups. Of course, the Premiership remains the one hole in his trophy resume.

This writer was never a fan, but has to admit Gerrard was always key to Liverpool's triumphs and he scored many ­vital goals on big occasions. Even this season, he has played a big role in a number of games despite having clearly lost a step or two from last season.

Liverpool's young attacking midfielders like Philippe Coutinho and Raheem Stirling may boast talent and explosiveness, but they still lack the experience and sharpness which Gerrard brings. It was only fitting that Gerrard scored Liverpool's equalizer in the game, a final hurrah against an old ­enemy and whose fans gave him a standing ovation when he was substituted off.

This season has been a disappointment as Gerrard would have preferred Liverpool to continue their title challenge rather than fight for fifth place. As it is, the loss of their best goal scorers to another club and injury rendered Liverpool toothless and they were never contenders at any point this season.

Yet rather than ridiculing or blaming him endlessly over his slip-ups or feeling sorry for him, we should realize he has had a long illustrious career and deserves to go out on his own terms.

The author is an editor with the Global Times. hiltonyip@globaltimes.com.cn