Steven Gerrard's Liverpool Focus Questioned by Reds Legend Bruce Grobbelaar

Liverpool goalkeeping great Bruce Grobbelaar believes Steven Gerrard is already focused on life after Anfield.

The Reds captain was sent off 38 seconds after coming on as a half-time substitute during the side's 2-1 loss to Manchester United on Sunday, reported by BBC Sport. He made a crunching tackle on Juan Mata, much to the crowd's approval, before stamping on Ander Herrera after the pair challenged each other for possession seconds later.

Having inked a deal to join MLS side Los Angeles Galaxy in the summer, Gerrard is no longer thinking about the Merseyside club, according to Grobbelaar: "Steven Gerrard wanted to stamp his authority on to the match," he told talkSPORT's Extra Time show. "I know that Gerrard’s heart is in Liverpool, and always will be, but his head is in Los Angeles."

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Gerrard apologised after the match, telling Sky Sports:

"

I just need to accept it. The decision was right. I've let my team-mates and manager down today and even more importantly I've let all the supporters down so I take full responsibility for my actions. I tried to jump his tackle and I've seen his studs and I've reacted wrong.

I've been in the game long enough [to know what happens] when you do something like that and especially at the time of the game—after half-time with 45 to play—with a great opportunity to get back into the game, I take full responsibility for today's result.

"

Jon Super/Associated Press

The red card overshadowed Mata's terrific brace—and indeed Daniel Sturridge's consolation—on Monday's backpages, per B/R UK:

Former Liverpool vice-captain Jamie Carragher, now a pundit for Sky Sports, said that Gerrard let the emotion get to him during his last match against Liverpool's great rivals:

"

Steven Gerrard is an emotional player—you see that in his career. He’s taken teams I’ve played in into some unbelievable moments. There’s no doubt being a local player, the emotion of these occasions, the frustration coming into this game, has contributed to the moment of madness.

"

Jon Super/Associated Press

Gerrard was certainly fired up when he came on, perhaps down to Liverpool's midfielders being dominated by United throughout the first half. The likes of Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson were unable to stop Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Michael Carrick maintaining possession, finding space with a pass and moving the ball along to a team-mate.

Brendan Rodgers turned to the obvious solution, a player who has single-handedly dragged Liverpool through matches over the years. Had Gerrard not reacted to Herrera's challenge, it's likely the previous tackle on Mata would have fired the local fans into a frenzy. There's no guarantee Liverpool would have mounted a comeback, but it certainly would have helped.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Grobbelaar's comments are perhaps unfair on a player who has given his all to the side. He put in an excellent shift coming off the bench during Liverpool's recent 1-0 win over Swansea City, albeit in less heated circumstances.

A fairy-tale ending is still possible for Gerrard, though. Liverpool are on the brink of qualifying for the semi-final of the FA Cup and could still feature in the May 30 final. That would be his last match for club and a perfect opportunity to go out in memorable style.

He has scored spectacular goals in the tournament before—most notably his stoppage-time equaliser in the 2006 final—so it would be foolish to bet against Gerrard now he has a point to prove.