Former Liverpool and England skipper Steven Gerrard called time on his glittering playing career on Thursday at the age of 36.
AFP Sport remembers five of the Liverpool legend’s finest displays:
Miracle in Istanbul (v AC Milan, 2004-05 Champions League final)
Faced with the prospect of a humiliating
defeat after falling 3-0 behind against an inspired AC Milan, Liverpool
overcame extraordinary odds to win their first European Cup for 21
years thanks to Gerrard, whose never-say-die efforts at the Ataturk
Stadium ensured he would forever be regarded as an Anfield icon. In the
signature moment of Gerrard’s storied career, the midfielder, who
admitted he was certain Liverpool would lose at half-time, helped
orchestrate a comeback for the ages. He reduced the deficit with a
header before winning the penalty that led to Xabi Alonso’s equaliser as
Rafael Benitez’s side scored three times in five incredible minutes.
The Reds completed their astonishing triumph in a penalty shoot-out,
leaving Gerrard to experience “the best moment of my life” as he lifted
the trophy.
The ‘Gerrard final’ (v West Ham, 2005-06 FA Cup final)
Just 12 months after his heroics in
Istanbul, Gerrard added to his growing legend by almost single-handedly
winning another piece of silverware in a final destined to be remembered
for his majestic contribution. Trailing 2-0 after a woeful start at
Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, Liverpool were dragged back into the match
on the strength of Gerrard’s talent and tenacity. He set up Djibril
Cisse to reduce the deficit before equalising himself, only for the
Hammers to regain the lead. The Reds were seconds away from defeat when
Gerrard struck again with a blistering 35-yard drive to force
extra-time. Liverpool went on to win in a penalty shoot-out that
inevitably featured a successful spot-kick from the captain.
Last-gasp European heroics (v Olympiakos, 2004-05 Champions League)
When Rivaldo gave Olympiakos a shock
lead at Anfield in a decisive group-stage clash, it appeared Benitez’s
team were destined for a lacklustre exit. But Gerrard rose to the
occasion with an unmatchable fervour that inspired an epic fightback.
Goals from Florent Sinama Pongolle and Neil Mellor put Liverpool within a
solitary strike of progressing to the knockout stages, setting the
stage for Gerrard to fire home with a sweetly struck shot from just
outside the penalty area in the 86th minute. It was a moment destined to
go into Anfield folklore as Liverpool went on to become European
champions for a fifth time that season.
Treble Derby delight (v Everton, 2011-12 Premier League)
Entering the twilight of his career,
Gerrard was struggling to silence the critics who claimed he was past
his best. But the sight of Merseyside rivals Everton typically brought
the best out of him and that was the case again at Anfield as he scored a
hat-trick in a 3-0 win that was just reward for a virtuoso performance.
It was the first hat-trick in a Merseyside derby since Ian Rush scored
four in the Reds’ 5-0 win at Goodison Park in 1982 and the first at
Anfield since Fred Howe achieved the feat for Liverpool in 1935.
Red revenge (v Manchester United, 2000-01 Premier League)
Although Gerrard never quite succeeded
in knocking United off their perch as the Premier League’s top dogs for
much of his career, he did enjoy some notable individual successes
against the old enemy. He scored nine goals against United and the pick
of them came on a spring day at Anfield when he lashed a superb
long-range strike past Fabien Barthez to open the scoring in a 2-0 win
that gave Liverpool a first double over their rivals in 22 years.
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