The Story of Steven Gerrard's Liverpool Career in 20 Games

Steven Gerrard concludes his storied Liverpool playing career on Sunday, as the Reds take on Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium—17 years in the making, Gerrard is one of the Premier League's most iconic players.

Speaking after his penultimate league clash, and his final game at Anfield, the Reds captain told supporters that: "It felt very strange [stepping out at Anfield for the last time]. I've been dreading this moment.

"I'm going to miss it so much. I've loved every minute of it and I'm absolutely devastated I'm not going to play in front of these supporters again."

To many, Gerrard is Liverpool Football Club. But just how did he get there?

Here's Gerrard's Liverpool career in 20 games.

Liverpool 2-0 Blackburn Rovers, Premier League, November 1998

Liverpool debut

During his post-match speech, Gerrard highlighted his Liverpool debut as one of his most cherished moments, saying:

"

It's very difficult to pick one. The very first time I ran out, thanks to this man here [Gerard Houllier] is a moment I'll never forget. The first time you play for Liverpool is a dream come true. Everything else after that was a bonus for me. The very first time to play for Liverpool was an absolute dream.

"

Then-Reds manager Gerard Houllier placed a lot of faith in the 18-year-old Gerrard and introduced him for defender Vegard Heggem in the 90th minute in a 2-0 Premier League victory against Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.

Playing at right-back, Gerrard had little time to make an impression, but as Heggem told James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo, his arrival "had a really positive influence on the whole club."

That was only the beginning.

Liverpool 4-1 Sheffield Wednesday, Premier League, December 1999

First goal for the Reds

Gerrard had to wait over a year to notch his first Liverpool goal, but when he did he made sure to do so in style.

Fellow youngster David Thompson found Rigobert Song, whose pass to Gerrard spurred a bursting run forward from the midfielder, beating two defenders before firing low beyond Kevin Pressman in the penalty area.

Recalling the occasion, Bleacher Report's Max Munton wrote for This is Anfield back in 2013:

"

Until then Michael Owen had been the youngster grabbing everyone’s attention, Jamie Carragher wasn’t yet a first-team regular and David Thompson was the much-hyped midfielder Liverpool were resting their hopes for the future on.

19-year-old Gerrard’s brilliant individual goal to give Liverpool a 3-1 lead against Wednesday in this potential banana-skin match changed that and suddenly things seemed very positive indeed at Liverpool.

"

One step at a time, Gerrard was making a real impression on the Anfield faithful.

Liverpool 3-2 Everton, Premier League, April 1999

Merseyside derby heroics

In a match made notorious by Reds striker Robbie Fowler's line-sniffing celebration, the contribution of Gerrard was just as valuable as the pair of strikes his team-mate supplied.

Replacing Heggem once again, in the 71st minute, Gerrard helped provide added thrust to a side that soon went 3-1 up thanks to a wonderful volley from the supremely underrated Patrick Berger—but that wasn't to be the end.

With hotshot Everton striker Francis Jeffers setting the tie up for a nervy finale with a goal in the 84th minute, Liverpool needed to hold on for victory.

Gerrard's late goal-line clearance, denying the efforts of Danny Cadamarteri, ensured Liverpool went away with three precious points and bragging rights once more.

Liverpool 0-1 Everton, Premier League, September 1999

Michael Steele/Getty Images

First of seven red cards for Liverpool

Just five months after his first Merseyside derby and the heroics that ensued, Gerrard's second brought a slightly less honourable performance.

In a heated clash at Goodison Park, Gerrard was one of three players sent off, with the midfielder receiving his marching orders for a disgusting waist-high challenge on Toffees' goalscorer Kevin Campbell.

ToffeeWeb.com, relaying the post-match report of the Times' Stephen Wood, remembered the words of Houllier after the game: "Some of my players lost the plot out there. I am not happy about that, because no matter how much provocation there is, you will pay if you lose your nerve at this level. You must have the brains to decide what is the best way of getting something out of a game like this."

That was the first of seven Liverpool red cards for Gerrard, and not the last against the Reds' bitter local rivals.

Birmingham City 1-1 Liverpool (4-5 Penalties), League Cup Final, February 2001

Phil Cole/Getty Images

Gerrard's first silverware

Houllier, now overlooked by many, was a hugely successful manager during his time at Liverpool, and his guidance brought Gerrard his first silverware in the 2000/01 League Cup.

After defeating Chelsea, Stoke City (a remarkable 8-0 away win, including a hat-trick for Fowler), Fulham and Crystal Palace along the way, Liverpool set up a final clash with Birmingham City at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium.

A goal from Fowler seemed to tie the game up for the Reds, until Darren Purse's last-minute penalty ensured a shootout between the two sides.

Gerrard didn't take a penalty—perhaps unfortunately for Liverpool—as he was substituted in the 78th minute, with veteran midfielder Gary McAllister taking his place.

Nevertheless, Gerrard played a key role in securing his first silverware as a senior professional.

Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United, Premier League, March 2001

A rocket against the north-west rivals

Gerrard has become known for his ability to decimate goalkeepers from long range—as will be further investigated later—and one of his finest outside-the-area strikes came against north-west rivals Manchester United in the Premier League in 2001.

Wearing the No. 17, Gerrard picked up the ball in an area not too dissimilar to that of his first Liverpool strike after a knockdown from Fowler.

Juxtaposing the shaky efforts of United goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, Gerrard didn't hesitate when he drove a piledriver from 35 yards beyond the erratic Frenchman and into the net.

This opened the scoring in a cherished 2-0 Anfield win.

Everton 1-3 Liverpool, Premier League, September 2001

Another bold display against Everton

Another Merseyside derby, another classic performance from Gerrard. Starting in midfield in his now-customary advanced role, Gerrard opened the scoring with a sensational strike.

Latching on to Gary Naysmith's poor headed clearance, Gerrard knocked the ball past the Toffees defender and into an unnatural wide angle near the edge of the box. From there, Gerrard fired an unstoppable drive beyond his Everton namesake, Paul.

One of the midfielder's best-ever goals.

Gerrard's celebration encapsulated just what it means to him to play for Liverpool, charging in front of a mixed crowd, tongue out, baiting the infuriated Everton supporters.

Every Liverpool supporters' dream.

Liverpool 3-0 Olimpija Ljubljana, UEFA Cup, October 2003

First game as captain

Gerrard's departure this summer leaves a miserable void on the leadership front on Merseyside, with likely successor Jordan Henderson still a questionable figure in terms of replacing a man synonymous with the Liverpool captaincy.

But, obviously, it wasn't always that way.

"

Stevie will lead the team against Ljubliana and in the future. I have thought long and hard about this. This is not something which should be seen as against Sami. He has been a good captain for us. He has lifted six trophies as captain.

But I have considered a number of issues. Firstly, I think Stevie has certain leadership qualities which I spotted very early in his career. When he was young, all he needed was time to mature. Now he is 23 and he is ready. There has been a maturing in his game and his personality.

"

Five seasons into his Liverpool career, Gerrard was made Liverpool captain, as Houllier's words—reported by BBC Sport at the time—explain.

Taking the armband in a routine 3-0 victory over Olimpija Ljubljana in the UEFA Cup group stage, thanks to goals from Anthony Le Tallec, Emile Heskey and Harry Kewell, Gerrard took his first steps in a long run as Liverpool's standard-bearer.

Liverpool 3-1 Olympiakos, Champions League, December 2004

"What a hit son, what a hit..."

Gerrard's goals against United and Everton may be two of his best technical strikes, but none match the sheer monumental implications of the captain's effort in Liverpool's 3-1 win over Olympiakos in the 2004/05 Champions League.

Set to crash out of the Champions League with the score at 2-1 heading into the final minutes, Liverpool needed a moment of magic to secure the two-goal lead required to progress to the knockout stages.

Gerrard, as ever, was the man for the occasion, and his unstoppable, long-range effort soared past Antonios Nikopolidis and into the net.

The midfielder told reporters, including the Liverpool Echo's James Pearce, in his final Liverpool press conference that: "For one [most memorable] goal at Anfield, it would definitely have to be Olympiakos, for the timing and how much the team needed it. That Olympiakos goal was so huge."

Every Liverpool supporter understands the significance of that goal, and its legendary status was only reinforced by co-commentator Andy Gray's now-iconic reaction.

"Oh, you beauty."

AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool (2-3 Penalties), Champions League Final, May 2005

Gerrard's greatest achievement

That Olympiakos triumph was just the first step towards European immortality for Rafa Benitez's Liverpool that season, and their Champions League final win over AC Milan—spurred by Gerrard's sheer drive and quality—serves as one of the greatest games in footballing history.

At 3-0 down heading into half-time thanks to a goal from Paolo Maldini and two from Hernan Crespo, the Reds looked lost, and their prospects unsalvageable.

A rousing half-time team talk and some inspired tactical work from Benitez, as told by Gerrard's long-serving team-mate Jamie Carragher in his autobiography (h/t the Liverpool Echo), inspired the comeback. Switching to a 3-5-2, Gerrard played a focal role in stymieing the previously dominant Andrea Pirlo, and Liverpool were a changed side.

Swarming the Milan defence, there was a sense of belief growing throughout.

A lovely header from Gerrard was followed by goals from Vladimir Smicer and Xabi Alonso to bring the game to extra time and eventually penalties.

Again, Gerrard wasn't needed in a shootout. Conversions from Dietmar Hamaan, Djibril Cisse and Smicer were enough to secure an incredible victory, with jelly-legged goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek the spot-kick hero.

Without Gerrard, however, the Reds would not have stood a chance; his rousing celebration after heading Liverpool back into the equation summed it all up—he was going to win, no matter what.

Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United (3-1 Penalties), FA Cup Final, May 2006

Ben Radford/Getty Images

The Gerrard Final

From one final-winning performance to another, Gerrard's heroics against West Ham United in the 2006 FA Cup final were nothing short of incredible.

With the score at 3-2 to the Hammers heading into injury time, a visibly exhausted Gerrard latched on to a hopeful knockdown 30 yards out before launching a sensational long-range half-volley beyond Shaka Hislop to bring the game to extra time.

Liverpool again won this game in a penalty shootout, and this time the captain was on hand to put one away.

One of Gerrard's most iconic moments, this game has since been labelled the "Gerrard Final," and rightly so. 

Liverpool 4-2 Arsenal, Champions League Quarter-Final, April 2008

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Penalty king

Yet another comeback?

Gerrard's penalty in Liverpool's 4-2 Champions League quarter-final win over Arsenal gained the Reds vital momentum in a game that looked lost to them after striker Emmanuel Adebayor had scored late on.

Ryan Babel eventually secured a comfortable victory for Liverpool, but it was Gerrard's goal that spurred them on once again.

This victory set the Reds on their way to another Champions League semi-final, although this time they crashed out at the hands of Chelsea.

This is one of 47 penalties scored by Gerrard for Liverpool. Their penalty king.

Olympique Marseille 1-2 Liverpool, Champions League, September 2008

Gerrard's best-ever goal

In terms of significance, Gerrard's goals against Olympiakos and Milan will be held up as some of his best, but in terms of technical prowess his strike in the 2008/09 Champions League away to Olympique Marseille stands as his greatest.

The way in which he looped the ball over Steve Mandanda, first-time, from such an obscure position and with such quality, is remarkable.

This goal should be held up in any argument as to whether or not Gerrard really was a world-class footballer.

He truly was.

Liverpool 3-1 Napoli, Europa League, November 2010

The inspirational Captain Fantastic

Leaving the heady days of Benitez and the Champions League behind, Gerrard became renowned for dragging Liverpool through the mire as the current decade began.

The perfect portrayal of this was his 45-minute, hat-trick performance against Napoli in the Europa League in 2010.

Replacing Milan Jovanovic at half-time, Gerrard produced a one-man barnstormer of a display.

His three goals, two from open play and one from the penalty spot, saw an incredibly poor Liverpool defeat one of Europe's most formidable young teams—one which featured the attacking trio of Marek Hamsik, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani.

The Roy Hodgson-helmed Liverpool side included such miserable performers as David N'Gog, Christian Poulsen, Paul Konchesky and Sotirios Kyrgiakos—an enduring marker of Gerrard's quality.

Cardiff City 2-2 Liverpool (2-3 Penalties), League Cup Final, February 2012

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Gerrard's last Liverpool silverware

Another penalty shootout?

2012's League Cup represents the last silverware Gerrard won as a Liverpool player, and one of very few tangible successes this decade for the Reds. It wasn't pretty, but a 3-2 shootout win was enough to consign Cardiff City, and Gerrard's cousin Anthony, to defeat.

Speaking to the Guardian's Andy Hunter ahead of his departure this summer, Gerrard recently declared: "I always wanted to achieve success and win trophies to share with [friends, family and team-mates] and not just go looking for glory, which I could have done."

This one surely meant just as much as the others at the time.

Liverpool 3-0 Everton, Premier League, March 2012

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Gerrard's 400th Premier League game and first Merseyside-derby hat-trick

Gerrard became something of a scourge of the blue half of Merseyside during his 17 years as a Liverpool player, and his hat-trick in 2012's 3-0 Premier League win at Anfield was perhaps the best of the lot.

It was his 400th Premier League game, his first Merseyside-derby hat-trick—the first in this fixture since Ian Rush scored three in 1982—and a goalscoring performance that broke Fowler's derby record.

Gerrard recently told Pearce of the Liverpool Echo that this game was one of his happiest memories: "The Everton game when I got the hat-trick [was one of my favourites]. After all the stick I’ve had from the Bluenoses that was nice."

A Red through and through.

Stoke City 3-5 Liverpool, Premier League, January 2014

Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

Gerrard's first game in a new role

Gerrard's impending departure did not come as too much of a surprise to Liverpool supporters, given his unfortunate decline in quality over the past two seasons.

This, arguably, began in earnest in Liverpool's 5-3 away win over Stoke City in last season's Premier League.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers utilised Gerrard in a defensive-midfield role, looking to nullify his growing immobility and hopefully maximising his playmaking ability—as the goal-heavy scoreline suggests, it wasn't a wholly inspired decision.

Charlie Adam took advantage of a slip from the positionally inexperienced to fire one home, and this became a theme for the midfielder in this new role—against the likes of West Ham, Aston Villa and Crystal Palace, Gerrard was mercilessly exploited in the holding position by pacy No. 10s.

After the Stoke win, Rodgers told BBC Sport that: "He's someone who fits the profile of that role. He does it a bit more with England. I have spoken to him a lot about it and it was just about timing. We saw today that he played really well. Steven showed great leadership as well."

Rodgers saw Gerrard as his quarterback, but his struggles in this role perhaps proved otherwise.

It could well be that his depreciation in form in this role contributed, indirectly at least, to Gerrard's decision to depart this summer.

Liverpool 3-2 Manchester City, Premier League, April 2014

When Gerrard dared to dream

Despite the Reds' defensive fragility, last season saw an unexpected title surge—largely inspired by the deep-lying creativity of Gerrard, and the goalscoring talents of Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge.

One of the most significant results in this run was a 3-2 win over Manchester City at Anfield in April 2014.

A late goal from Philippe Coutinho sealed the three points for the Reds, and after the game the captain gathered his team-mates into a huddle to deliver some inspiring words.

Gerrard's impassioned speech, with tears in his eyes, said it all—this was a player who wanted this Premier League title more than anyone else.

Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool, Premier League, May 2014

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

When dreams faded

The title win wasn't to be, however, and a 3-3 draw away to Palace in May 2014 signalled this.

Goals from Damien Delaney and a brace from Dwight Gayle cancelled out strikes from Joe Allen, Luis Suarez and Delaney's own goal to snatch points from Liverpool when they desperately needed them to keep up with leaders Manchester City.

Visibly despondent after the final whistle, Gerrard's disappointment and sheer misery was palpable.

Liverpool 1-3 Crystal Palace, Premier League, May 2015

Stu Forster/Getty Images

Gerrard's last game at Anfield

Another dismal result against Palace here, but this time the outcome truly didn't matter as Gerrard played out his final game at Anfield as a Liverpool player.

"You'll Never Walk Alone," "Steve Gerrard, Gerrard," and "Steven Gerrard is our captain" rang out around Anfield throughout as Liverpool supporters gave their long-serving captain the reception he deserved.

This is a player who brought the club insurmountable highs when they would otherwise have likely faced interminable lows.

A remarkable player.

Statistics via LFCHistory.net.

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