Few men will ever match Steven Gerrard's legacy at Liverpool FC. The only player in Reds history to be in the club's all-time top five for both appearances and goals, the talismanic midfielder played 710 games and scored 186 goals. He joined the club at 17 years old and left at 36 as a world-class player who helped take the team from England's second division to European glory.
Gerrard made his debut on August 8, 1995, against Sunderland at Anfield. He was substituted away to Newcastle United that following Saturday. The final score was 3-0 to the Magpies. He completed seven full matches before being sent off against Southampton on September 13, 1995. The game ended 2-2 and he was banned for three games after elbowing Peter Osgood.
He returned for Liverpool's next match against Manchester United at Old Trafford. The game finished 1-1 after extra time and then went to penalties; United won 5-4 after Gerrard missed his spot kick. He then had to wait until October 10, 1995 to make his return in a 4-0 win over Carlisle United at Anfield. He scored his first goal two weeks later in a 3-1 victory over Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park. It was also his last game before leaving for international duty with England.
Gerrard won nine trophies for Liverpool over a 17-year playing career, scoring 186 goals in an incredible 710 appearances, but it was the intangibles that made him special: the ability to grab a team by the scruff of the neck and drag them to glory—never more evident than that famous night in Istanbul. He is also regarded as one of England's greatest ever captains.
Gerrard started his career at Liverpool as a teenager and became one of the most beloved players in the club's history. He helped the Reds win the UEFA Champions League in 2005, just two years after they had been relegated from the Premier League. He left Liverpool in 2014 after winning another Champions League medal, this time with the Los Angeles Galaxy.
During his time at Anfield, Gerrard earned numerous awards, including the European Golden Shoe in 2003 for scoring 12 goals in Europe matches alone. He also has four PFA Players' Player of the Year awards to his name.
Gerrard's talent was clear from an early age. When he was only 15 years old, he was given a trial at Manchester United but was not offered a contract. He later signed with Liverpool and went on to become one of the best midfielders in the world.
While at Liverpool, Gerrard won three English Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and one League Cup. He also won the UEFA Champions League with the club once.
700 public appearances Jamie Carragher was Mr. Liverpool during his Anfield tenure, the quintessential one-club player with one of the greatest hearts in football. Our former vice-captain was a key figure in the Reds' success during his 17-year tenure with the club, appearing in over 700 games. He retired in 2015 after making his final appearance in the 5-1 victory over Southampton.
Carragher made his debut against Manchester City on August 16, 1995 and scored his first goal three months later against Middlesbrough. Under the management of Roy Evans and then Rafael Benitez, he became an important part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 2005. After seven seasons with Spanish side Barcelona, Carragher returned to Liverpool as coach under Jürgen Klopp in 2013. He retired at the end of the season.
Carragher is considered one of the best central defenders of his generation and had a successful career both internationally for England and domestically for Liverpool. He won the Footballer of the Year award in 2004 and was named in the PFA Team of the Year each year from 2000 to 2014. He also won the FA Cup in 2009 and the UEFA Champions League in 2005.
After retiring from playing football, Carragher took up a coaching role with Liverpool and was given the task of helping the team regain its place at the top of English football.
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