Gerrard – the Liverpool talisman

The hat-trick against Everton in the derby at Anfield earlier this month was another achievement in the career of Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.

Gerrard’s treble, the first by a Liverpool player against Everton since Ian Rush scored four in a 5-0 win at Goodison Park in 1982, came on his 400th league appearance for the Reds.

This season has been a difficult one for Gerrard as he has been hampered by a niggling injury that kept him out for almost half the campaign. Yet, his return gave the team added strength when many new faces were added to the side by manager Kenny Dalglish

Gerrard returned in time as Liverpool won the League Cup final against Cardiff City on penalties and now his great dream is to captain England at the Euro 2012 finals in the summer.

He earned his 90th cap for the country in the 3-2 friendly defeat to Netherlands last month. Gerrard has scored 19 goals in an England shirt so far.

On May 31, 2000, Gerrard made his England debut in a friendly against Ukraine at Wembley − a day after his 20th birthday.

He scored his first international goal in the famous 5-1 win over Germany in a 2002 World Cup qualifier (September 2001) at the Olympic Stadium.

One-club players are a rarity nowadays and Liverpool should be thankful to have a great Liverpudlian as their guiding light.

Gerrard’s remarkable performance in the 2006 FA Cup final against West Ham United made him the only Liverpool player to score in the finals of the European Cup (2005, vs Milan), FA Cup (2006, vs West Ham), UEFA Cup (2001, vs Alaves) and League Cup (2003, vs Manchester United).

His biggest achievement came in 2005 when he was part of the Liverpool team, then led by Rafa Benitez, that beat Milan in a thrilling Champions League final.

Gerrard had a great say in that remarkable Reds’ comeback when they were three goals in arrears at half-time by scoring the first goal and being among the penalty-takers in the shoot-out.

Facts

• Gerrard became the second youngest captain ever at 24 (after Didier Deschamps) to lift the European Cup when Liverpool won the competition in 2005.

• Like Steve McManaman, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Carragher, Gerrard progressed from the club’s youth academy.

• Gerrard made his Liverpool debut in November 1998 in a match at home against Blackburn Rovers 2-0, coming on as a second-half substitute for defender Vegard Heggem.

• In 2001, Gerrard was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.

• He was included in the PFA Team of the Year in 2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009.

• He was the PFA Fans’ Player of the Year 2001, 2009.

• PFA Players’ Player of the Year 2006.

• Gerrard was voted England’s Player of the Year 2007 and granted the MBE in 2007.

• Football Writers’ Footballer of the Year 2009.

• Liverpool’s top striker in 2005, 2006, 2009.