Steven Gerrard

Squad Number:
8
Position:
Midfield
Place of Birth:
Whiston, England
Date Of Birth:
30/ 05/ 1980
Height:
6'2
Weight:
12st 3lbs
This Season
Appearances:
15(2)
Goals:
6
Yellow Cards:
2
Red Cards:
0
Minutes on Pitch:
1325More Steven Gerrard news.
Steven Gerrard
Steven Gerrard has grown used to the plaudits that have rained down on him since his Premiership debut in December 1998. 'The future of England's success' is a strong claim to make about one player, but where Gerrard is concerned it is not an exaggeration.
Having graduated from the Liverpool Youth Academy, Gerrard is one of the most exciting talents in the English game. He is a midfielder that combines commitment, aggression, attacking instincts and the ability to create as well as score goals. In short, the complete player. But such is his versatility, Gerrard is also a regular at right-back.
Niggling injuries, owing more to his continuing physical development rather than any professional over-enthusiasm (6ft tall Gerrard was the same height as Michael Owen when he made his debut) have frustrated those who want to see him in every possible game for Liverpool and indeed England, but Gerrard Houllier remained determined not to burn out his star player by playing him in every game.
2000/01 was a season of achievements for Gerrard. Having starred in England's Euro 2000 victory over rivals Germany, the young midfielder went on to collect Worthington Cup, FA Cup and Uefa Cup winners medals as Liverpool completed a tremendous treble. As if to prove his personal progress, he also picked up individual honours in the form of the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award and the Liverpool supporters' vote as Player of the Season.
He struggled to find his form early in 2001/02, but he was instrumental in England's 5-1 demolition of Germany in Munich, scoring the first goal. Injury problems once again meant that he was unable to make a regular impression on Liverpool's season, but when he was available, he was vital to their push for trophies.
However, his season ended in disappointment as the Reds failed to emulate their previous glittering season and ended the season empty-handed. Dissapointment hit once more as a groin injury deprived him of a place in England's 2002 World Cup squad.
After overcoming that groin problem, Gerrard went on to perform brilliantly during the Reds' 2002/03 campaign, making 54 appearances in all competitions, and scoring 7 goals. He also featured heavily in Sven Goran Eriksson's England plans, playing in 6 international games and scored his second international goal.
However, the 2003/04 season was dissapointing for Gerrard as Liverpool could only finish fourth in the Barclays Premiership. Having been knocked out relativly early in both FA and Carling Cups, a miserable season was capped with defeat to Marseille in the UEFA Cup Fourth Round.
Euro 2004 was to prove equally dissapointing for the hungry Gerrard. After a bad start losing a 1-0 lead to France in the last few minutes, England recovered briefly, escaping their group before eventually losing on penalties to hosts Portugal at the Quarter-Final stage.
The 2004/05 campaign, however, was to prove more successful for him. Despite constant talk linking him with a move to Chelsea and dissapointment in the Barclays Premiership (Liverpool could finish only fifth, behind bitter rivals Everton), he stuck with the Reds helping them to a memorable Champions League victory, scoring the crucial first goal in their return from three goals down. He was also a competitor for the PFA Player of the Year Award, although he lost out to England team-mate John Terry.
2005/06 was a season that lasted almost 12 months for Gerrard with Liverpool kicking off their defence of the Champions League trophy in July 2005, while he was representing his country at the World Cup until early July 2006. It ended in despair for him as he missed a penalty in their shoot-out defeat to Portugal