IT’S Sunday, March 22, 2015 and Liverpool are trailing 1-0 at half-time to deadly rivals Manchester United.
In his hour of need (well, 45 minutes plus stoppage time to be more accurate), Liverpool gaffer Brendan Rodgers turns to a bona fide Reds’ legend waiting on the bench.
No, not Rickie Lambert, but Steven Gerrard.
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Within seconds of coming on, Stevie G announces his arrival with a barnstorming challenge/live amuptation on Juan Mata that sends the Spaniard several feet into the Merseyside sky.
While it’s a tackle that wins roars of approval from the Anfield faithful it’s also one that enrages United’s Ander Herrera who dives in on Gerrard moments later, prompting the Liverpool skipper to stamp on the Spanish midfielder’s shin.
As luck would have it it’s also right under the nose of referee Martin Atkinson who dismisses Gerrard after just 38 turbulent seconds on the pitch.
“I tried to jump his tackle, I saw his studs and I reacted wrong,” shrugged Gerrard later. “I’ve been in the game long enough to know when you do something like that, especially at the timing of the game, at half-time with 45 [minutes] to play, a great opportunity to get back in the game.”
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