The first thing a contrite Steven Gerrard did when arriving back-stage at Anfield on Sunday, having been dismissed for that disgraceful, inexcusable stamp on Ander Herrera, was to ask Liverpool officials how many games he would miss (three)
Gerrard then asked to be left alone, sitting in the dressing-room, gathering his thoughts, away from where Adam Lallana, whom he had just replaced at half-time, was receiving treatment.
He showered, donned his match-day suit and waited for Brendan Rodgers and the players to return. As they trooped in, and sat down, smarting at a damaging defeat to such bitter foe, Gerrard stood in the middle and addressed them. He apologised to the manager he’d let down badly with his recklessness. He expressed remorse to team-mates he’d left to take on United without him.
Gerrard was devastated his folly had cost Liverpool any real chance of getting back into the game, although they rallied and lost only 2-1. His red may ultimately wreck Liverpool’s hopes of getting back in the Champions League. No wonder Manchester United fans could be heard outside reveling in such a significant victory. As Gerrard made that walk of shame towards the tunnel, gleeful United supporters sent him on his way with the usual terrace hat-trick of “cheerio” chants, V signs and hand gestures mimicking the shaking of a dice.
No wonder United’s players had celebrated so loudly at the final whistle. Louis van Gaal’s excellent team could well have won against 11 such was the quality of contributions from the likes of Juan Mata, the man of the match, and Michael Carrick. As United marked the moment noisily, Gerrard inquired of another Liverpool official: “What do the club need me to do?”
He was not thinking of his own image, one that was being merrily denigrated by United fans and by countless memes on social media. He was more concerned about Liverpool. He’d embarrassed them. So he would not hide. Most players would have skulked away. His lack of professionalism when reacting to Herrera’s challenge was not evident in his post-match behaviour.
An introvert by nature, Gerrard cares deeply about the club, and wanted to apologise to the Liverpool fans. He asked to do one interview with Sky’s Geoff Shreeves, a television reporter he has known for a long time and trusts implicitly.
He did not seek understanding or sympathy. Liverpool fans know anyway that the fury characterising Gerrard’s whirlwind minute against United is drawn from the same deep emotional well that made him tear up the defences of AC Milan in the Champions League final of 2005 and West Ham in the FA Cup final the following year. He patently overstepped the line at Anfield, his innate will to win turning into excess and, deservedly, he paid the price.
He is not a good watcher of games, brooding on the bench, itching to get on, the spring coiling tight. United stir his blood, especially when they are schooling his beloved Liverpool as in the first half. As a schoolboy, Gerrard once wore a Bryan Robson United No7 top in a Huyton street kickabout because he so enjoyed watching the midfielder play for England. Gerrard’s father summoned him quickly into the house, telling him to remove the United shirt, fearful of what the neighbours might think. Gerrard has always possessed that hunger to perform against United, a desire that spilled over.
He was too fired up when he came on, and Herrera was fortunate to escape injury. Gerrard knew immediately he had erred. So he was keen to front up. The clock was ticking. Sky was heading towards its build-up to Hull City-Chelsea and had still to complete the interview with the triumphant Mata and Carrick. Gerrard waited for the United pair to finish and then quickly took his place in front of the camera, in the small alcove next to the United dressing-room which was not a quiet place.
People were milling about, United players and officials walking past as Gerrard stood with his back to the wall, facing them and Shreeves’ microphone. The understanding was that this was not an interview, more an opportunity for Gerrard to make his statement of penitence.
Those closeby noted how calm and unemotional Gerrard was, simply focusing on transmitting his message. The storm that raged for 38 seconds of the second half, that had built while sitting on the bench watching his team-mates perform so timidly, was spent but the sorrow will remain.
In the countdown to his departure to LA Galaxy, leaving his footballing home of 17 years, Gerrard has just wasted four games, the match with United and then the forthcoming fixtures with Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup and then Newcastle United. He will have only six Premier League matches (and the Cup if Liverpool win that quarter-final replay at Ewood Park).
Borrowing the apposite phrase of his friend Jamie Carragher, Gerrard’s “moment of madness” has cast a dark cloud over his journey towards Sunset Boulevard. But claims that Gerrard has tarnished his legacy, has somehow invalidated all those epic moments from Istanbul to Cardiff, need resisting.
Critics also throw in last season’s slip against Chelsea as a further episode somehow lessening his stature amongst Liverpool fans. Yet demand is strong for tickets for his final game at Anfield, the visit of Crystal Palace on May 16. The Kop will take a longer-term perspective of Gerrard.
They will also appreciate that the midfielder has been more than a player for Liverpool, more than a frequent rescue act on-field. He is revered as the local boy who stayed loyal, who turned down United as a schoolboy, and who eventually rebuffed overtures from Chelsea that would have made him even wealthier and helped him win the title. When Gerrard attends the annual Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield, Liverpool fans see a man also grieving for a relative who died on the Leppings Lane End, his cousin Jon-Paul Gilhooley.
Gerrard is loved at Liverpool and a few mistakes will not break that bond.
When it was Rodgers’ turn in front of the cameras, he spoke respectfully about Gerrard, supporting his captain. Strangely, Rodgers has been criticised for not starting the midfielder which would have been unfair on those like Joe Allen who have played well recently.
At 34, Gerrard’s decline has been clear, the defining moment coming in this season’s loss at Palace on Nov 23 when Jason Puncheon won the ball and sped away so easily from him. Liverpool are right to wind down Gerrard’s career with them, and Rodgers has handled a difficult situation sensitively.
The only positive for Liverpool out of Gerrard’s dismissal is that the succession planning has been made easier. The Gerrard era is over. The red cards should be remembered but the likelihood is that Liverpool fans will remember more the moments when Gerrard made them dream.
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