The status of Steven Gerrard as Liverpool -legend is cemented in history -but it is honest to say that his Anfield -Exit was a nightmare instead of a fairy tale.
In January 2015, Liverpool announced that Gerrard would leave at the end of the season at the expiry of his contract, even though he had offered the midfielder a new deal.
The Reds had come so close to winning the title The previous season, but Brendan Rodgers had started limiting Gerrard's playing time and so he decided to continue.
It was a sad farewell to the former captain of England, who was left on the couch for the entire Bank of Champions League in Real Madrid, lost in the semi-final of the competition and FA Cups, and was beaten 6-1 in Stoke City in his last appearance for the club.
Another flash point came in March when Gerrard was only broadcast for 38 seconds after he had started as a replacement in his last collision against fierce Rivals Manchester United.
In the eyes of some, Gerrard Liverpool let down that day after he had his emotions improved. For us it was one of the highlights of his career. In fact it was f*cking brilliant.
There was a lot of hope among Liverpool fans after the club finished second in 2013-14, only for the men of Rodgers to make a slow start of the next campaign to catch up on Manchester United hoping to secure a top-four place.
After losing seven of their opening 16 Premier League matches, the Reds went on an unbeaten run of 13 games, where they were only falling three times before the men of Louis van Gaals, a series of results that had reduced the gap to only three points.
At this point the use of Gerrard by Rodgers was under a lot of research and the head hero was forced to look from the couch while United dominated Liverpool's midfield in the first half. As Rodgers later told BBC Sport: “Steven probably looked the first half and didn't see us making a tackle.”
Juan Mata placed the Red Devils first when other Herrera had all the time and space in the world to choose the Spaniard, who benefit Hock Horror-Kon from an outdoor position Alberto Moreno.
Liverpool was lucky to come in during the break with the score only 0-1. Cue Gerrard's introduction …
At that moment we go here.
Adam Lallana, who wasted Liverpool's best/only chance of the first half. Gerrard, Op.
While he was walking on the field, the 34-year-old impatience bit his lip to restart the game.
Jordan Henderson has a short word in the ear of his teammate, but Gerrard clearly does not listen to a word he says. No nod. No, “yes, certainly size.” Not even a look.
The second half has just started and Gerrard is already flying in. Mata quickly realized that it was wise to bottle the challenge, but Gerrard still kicks him in the air.
It seems hard that Mata must be counted to the victims. The fact that he scored the opening goal aside, it is not necessary to start the Spaniard next week. Even in the midst of such a fever rivival, Mata is too nice to get involved in hatred.
Yet it took less than 30 seconds before Gerrard show more fights than any Liverpool player who is displayed in the first 45 minutes.
It is freely endearing the way in which Gerrard rises quickly and follows immediately after the next ball as a child in a playground.
Fed by pure adrenaline and 45 minutes of frustration, he is not interested in the wider game around him, he just has to be in the middle of the action.
Another Herrera is not a medium enforcer, but he excels in the role of Snidey Shithouse.
A short pass to Gerrard is enough to seduce the Spaniard to slide into his opposite number, but the Liverpool man Knicks the ball to a teammate.
In the beginning it is unclear what happened. There is clearly a kind of collision. Herrera wriggles in pain. Gerrard puts his hand in half of apology, half in resignation of the antics of the United Man.
F*cking hell.
Wayne Rooney cannot entirely bring herself completely to get completely into the face of Martin Atikinson and demand that his teammate of England is sent-a Cristiano Ronaldo Wink would have been hilarious, tbf but he still lets the referee know what he expects. And there it is.
Gerrard is fighting an impressive “what I, sir?” Gesture but hardly protests against the decision. He knows.
Yes, he knows. And now, thanks to the repetition, we all know it.
Maybe the heat of the moment came on Gerrard, maybe he was just angry that Herrera copied his boots.
He may have had a better chance of getting away with it if he had caught Herrera with the right foot with which he passed the ball. Jumping to vote for him with his left side was probably not the best idea.
Liverpool, desperate to retain their hope to take into account the Champions League alive, actually responds positively to the setback and finally put United on the back foot.
But in the hour Mark, Mata, completely recovered from Gerrard's first challenge, the murderous blow provides calmness and balance that could not be further from the row of the occasion.
We told you that Mata never deserves to be kicked. Forget raw passion, he only acts in beauty.
With 20 minutes to go, Daniel Sturridge withdraws a goal, but United can afford to see Rooney missing a stop-time penalty while they protect all three points and finally finish fourth.
Liverpool, meanwhile, capitulated under Rodgers and dropped to the sixth.
Gerrard explained his 38 seconds of madness while defending two players from Rangers, Alfredo Morelos and Jon Flanagan, who had been sent in a Europa League equal game in 2018.
“The man United One is inexplicable. I was only about 43 seconds,” said Gerrard. “But I think shipping has come since Thursday, to be honest! Since I found out that I would not start.
“I was a player who played on emotion and that is where I felt that my best versions – all performances about people talk about – came from. But sometimes I got the balance wrong.
“I am a human, my players are human and they will sometimes be wrong. I can accept that.”
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