Don’t go… Liverpool legend’s five defining moments
Only two games left in the red shirt. When the final whistle of the 2014/15 season sounds, it will be the end of an era not only for Liverpool, but the whole of the Premier League, as Steven Gerrard will have, probably, have played his last game in English football.
The 34-year-old Anfield captain is set to head off to California to see out his career with MLS champions LA Galaxy, with a new contract on Merseyside having not been agreed.
Despite the ribbing he gets from opposing fans, there’s no denying that he’s one of the best midfielders to have ever played in English football, and the standing ovation he received from Chelsea supporters at Stamford Bridge is testament to the respect he’s earned.
His career has been littered with amazing moments, and here are FIVE that defined the man…
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Captain Fantastic
“I have thought long and hard about this. This is not something which should be seen as against Sami. He has been a good captain for us. He has lifted six trophies as captain.
“But I have considered a number of issues. Firstly, I think Stevie has certain leadership qualities which I spotted very early in his career.
“When he was young, all he needed was time to mature. Now he is 23 and he is ready. There has been a maturing in his game and his personality.”
What a decision this was from Gerard Houllier in 2003, and one that kicked off an era that moulded one of the best young talents England has ever produced into, arguably, the finest all-round midfielder to pull on the red jersey of Liverpool and the white one of the Three Lions.
The Frenchman’s decision truly elevated Gerrard’s game, with the added responsibility helping him to make the leap to greatness. Although not a ‘barking orders’ style of performer, the Merseyside No. 8 leads by example.
Pucker up!
The Premier League title is the one prize to evade Gerrard through his career, but as was the case last season, he came agonisingly close in 2009.
During that season with Fernando Torres in the form of his life, the now 34-year-old skipper was playing some of the best football of his career, and enjoyed one of his great moments at Old Trafford.
The Kop hero netted a penalty against Manchester United before unleashing one of the most iconic celebrations of the Premier League era by kissing the TV camera in the corner of the pitch.
Oh, ya beauty!
‘Ohhhhhhh, ya beauty! What a hit, son. What a hit!” Andy Gray may not be the most popular figure in the world of football nowadays, but that moment of commentary as Gerrard leathered the ball into the Kop net will go down in folklore.
The Reds were on the brink of elimination from the 2004/05 Champions League in the final game of the group stage, and needed to beat Olympiakos by two clear goals.
With the score at 2-1 in the dying minutes, Gerrard produced a moment of magic. A nod down from Neil Mellor on the edge of the 18-yard box teed up the midfielder, who unleashed an unstoppable half volley that fizzed into the onion bag.
Too tired to pass…
West Ham were just seconds from lifting the FA Cup.
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Leading 3-2 at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. The Londoners looked to be in little danger as the ball dropped to Gerrard 35 yards from goal. Ordinarily the midfielder would have recycled possession, but with cramp setting in he opted to whack it goalwards… with predictable results. The ball simply arrowed past Shaka Hislop.
The game went to extra time and Liverpool won on penalties, with Gerrard netting from the spot.
That night in Istanbul
The one. That night at the Ataturk Stadium will be remembered forever and surely goes down as the greatest Champions League comeback of all time.
3-0 down to an AC Milan side boasting names like Hernan Crespo, Kaka, Paolo Maldini, Dida and Alessandro Nesta, the Reds looked to be on course to suffer the highest defeat recorded in a European final.
But half-time changed it all. Shortly after the restart Gerrard headed a John Arne Riise cross into the net. Consolation, maybe? Then Vladimir Smicer rasped the ball home.
Surely not! And just moments after Gerrard broke into the box only to be tugged to the floor by Gennaro Gattuso. Penalty. Xabi Alonso converted – albeit from the rebound – and Liverpool went on to win on penalties.