By support

17th Nov, 2016 | 5:31pm

If Gerrard is looking for inspiration, these top five returning stars could persuade him to head for Anfield

COMMENT By Emma Sanders

Steven Gerrard could return to Liverpool after it was revealed he will be leaving LA Galaxy this summer following an 18-month spell with the MLS side.

According to the Express, he has been linked with moves to Celtic and Newcastle to join former managers Brendan Rodgers and Rafa Benitez but with Liverpool top of the table, could he re-join in search of that elusive Premier League title?

If he’s looking for inspiration, here are five other players who returned to their old clubs and enjoyed huge success:

Didier Drogba

The former Chelsea legend scored 157 goals in 341 appearances in his first eight-year period with the club and won the Champions League trophy in his final match before moving to Shanghai Shenhua in June 2012.

The striker came back to London for the 2014-15 season during Jose Mourinho’s second spell and scored seven goals in 40 appearances to win another Premier League title.

Teddy Sheringham

The former England international had one of the most successful careers in football and enjoyed two terrific periods with Tottenham, totalling 277 appearances for the club during his seven years at White Hart Lane.

He returned in 2001 after leaving in the summer of 1997 but was still prolific, with 22 goals in 70 league appearances in a two-season spell.

Nemanja Matic

Chelsea’s hard-tackling Serbian may not be in the same kind of form as he was during the 2014-15 campaign but the midfielder has certainly had a successful return to Stamford Bridge.

Matic was let go in 2010 after making just three first team substitute appearances in one season but returned in 2014, made 55 appearances in all competitions that season and was instrumental as Jose Mourinho’s side won the Premier League in emphatic style.

Robbie Fowler

The “God” returned to his beloved club in January 2006 on a free and played a big part in the Premier League, making 15 starts and a further 15 appearances and netted eight goals as Liverpool completed the season with a Champions League final.

In his first spell he received the heavenly accolade when he became one of the club’s most loved strikers, with 183 goals in 369 total appearances after graduating from the club’s adored academy.

Thierry Henry

Henry’s legendary status at Arsenal is no understatement as the Frenchman became the club’s record goal-scorer, netting 228 goals in 377 appearances during an eight-year career in London.

The striker surpassed goal-scoring records of a number of greats throughout Arsene Wenger’s reign including Robin Van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp and Robert Pires.

On his return to the club in January 2012, as part of a six-week loan deal with New York Red Bulls, he scored on his return debut against Leeds before netting a late winner in a Premier League clash against Sunderland in February.

In other Liverpool news, this forward must start ahead of Philippe Coutinho against Southampton.