Steven Gerrard: My Liverpool Story (30 page)

1, 2, 3, Against Everton

Going into another Merseyside derby, we were under pressure. Our form hadn’t been good. Everyone was telling us Everton were going to win at Anfield for the first time since I was sent off in 1999. David Moyes rested players ahead of an FA Cup tie, but I still think we would have won had he picked a full strength team. It proved a good night for me personally. I grabbed a hat-trick and to do that against Everton rates highly in my career. This was the final goal, although to be honest I barely had to do anything. Luis Suarez set me up brilliantly in front of the Kop. Hopefully, my partnership with Luis will fire this season, too.

The Greatest Feeling in the World

I always relish scoring against Everton and I have clear memories of the goals I have managed against them throughout my career. I think this picture shows just what the battle for bragging rights means to me. Beating Everton doesn’t make Liverpool’s season, but for a few days afterwards you have a spring in your step. It is in matches against Everton and Manchester United that, as a player, I feel the responsibility we have in living out the fans’ dreams even more.

Reverting to Childhood

I get abused mercilessly by Evertonians. They can criticise me all they want and there were times in the past when I enjoyed the banter. I took it as a sign that, deep down, they respect me as a player. Why bother shouting abuse at someone who you don’t think is capable of hurting you on the pitch? But the abuse I get these days is about my family, which I don’t like. I am never going to stop them singing their songs, but what I can do is to try and make sure they are not singing about a win for their team.

A Hat-trick Bun in the Oven

As with the ‘sucking thumb’ celebration, the match ball up my shirt gesture was one back at the Everton fans who target my family in their songs. I had been given the ball for scoring a hat-trick against them. It was just my way of saying, ‘All go home and sing your songs, but remember who scored the hat-trick.’ I’ve done quite well against Everton over the years, but the treble I got last season was hugely satisfying. As good as it was, it’s gone now. If you linger on your achievements in football, you’ll go backwards. I know I won’t score a hat-trick against Everton every time I face them, but the odd goal wouldn’t go amiss.

Another One Slips Away

The two finals we reached last season were so important to me personally because at this stage of my career I don’t know when I am going to experience that again. The FA Cup Final against Chelsea was an opportunity missed to collect my third winners’ medal.

I probably have two or three chances left now to try and get that hat-trick. For an hour, we didn’t play and Chelsea could have been out of sight. At the final whistle, we felt devastated because for the last 30 minutes we swarmed all over them. How many times have you heard that football is settled by the smallest of details? Well whether a ball – from Andy Carroll’s header, in this case – has fully crossed the line or not is the perfect example of that. If it had gone to extra time we would have won. It didn’t and I was left with regrets.

EPILOGUE

Whatever I achieve in my career from here on in is a
bonus. After the last two injuries I have had, I am intent on enjoying every single minute I have left in the game.

I have spent too much time on the sidelines and when you are out of the team you realise just how lucky you are to be a footballer. That is why I am determined to make the most of the opportunities that I am sure will continue to come my way. My ambition hasn’t altered and my will to win won’t become diluted. I want to see Liverpool winning silverware. I want to see Liverpool challenging for the top four and getting back into the Champions League where this club belongs. And, more than anything, I want Liverpool to win the Premier League title. I will continue to give everything I can to try and ensure that happens. It will be hard, but I’m not scared of a challenge.

I think that outlook has served me well so far in my career and there is no reason to change now. But maybe I won’t get as down as I have in the past if what I want doesn’t come off because of what I have been through in recent seasons. I say that now after I have returned from my summer holiday following Euro 2012, but I know it will be hard to stick to that and simply take any set-backs on the chin and move on when the new season starts.

Liverpool has undergone a lot of change (too much change in many respects, if you want to compete at the highest level), but I know that at the same time some of the changes in recent years have been necessary.

I am optimistic and excited about the future under our new manager, Brendan Rodgers. I have spoken to him about his plans and what he has said has been very impressive. He is someone who is enthusiastic about football and he lives and breathes it 24/7. He is very knowledgeable about tactics and he is determined to get Liverpool punching its weight again. Those are good qualities to have. I am eager to play for him and I think that, even though I am 32, he is a manager who can make me a better player.

I have always taken the view in my career that I will try to learn from the new people I come across, whether that be team-mates or managers. No matter how much I have won in my career, and even though I am approaching my 600th game for the club this season, I know there are things I can do better. And I am sure, listening to Brendan’s ideas for how the game should be played, that I can continue to push myself in a red shirt.

But it isn’t about what is good for me, it is what is best for Liverpool Football Club. That has always been the case in my eyes and always will continue to be.

Here’s to a successful season.

CAREER STATISTICS

(up to and including 2011–12 season)

Liverpool:

David James; Vegard Heggem (Steven Gerrard, 90), Jamie Carragher, Steve Staunton (Bjorn Tore Kvarme, 75), Phil Babb, Stig Inge Bjornebye; Jamie Redknapp, Paul Ince, Patrik Berger; Robbie Fowler, Michael Owen. Unused subs: Brad Friedel, Danny Murphy, David Thompson.

LIVERPOOL F.C. RECORD APPEARANCES