Anfield, Gerrard’s unfulfilled love story

Steven Gerrard dedicated the zenith of his youth to Liverpool’s cause, but his departure will never be a rosy end to that dedication, no matter how hard we try to make it emotional.

Steven Gerrard’s whole career in Liverpool can be summed up with Liverpool’s shattering 3-1 defeat before the unknown Crystal Palace: a nice, romantic love story, full of sweet, emotional moments, which ended abruptly and bitterly for both lovers.

Sweet moments, bitter moments.

It took more than 10 journalists to capture all of the feelings of the fans, as well as everyone involved, when Steven Gerrard played his last match on 16-05-2015. That match was played on the very field on which Gerrard played his debut for Liverpool 17 years earlier (Liverpool won 2-0 against Blackburn; 2 goals scored by Paul Ince and Michael Owen). 

The shops outside the field were full of Gerrard’s images. Everything in the stadium went live on television, from Gerrard’s three daughters to the letters “S8G” formed by fans standing in lines, to the epic music commemorating Gerrard’s great career as a football player. 

The match was Gerrard’s personal show, named “The Sound from Anfield,” in which more than 10 emotional songs were played to commemorate the great captain of the Merseyside Red Devil. Everything was perfect…until the match began.

Liverpool went down 1-3 against the basically unknown Crystal Palace. Gerrard was the attacking midfielder of Liverpool, but other than a shot that missed the goal by 10 metres, he could do no more. It was a shocking and scarring end for a great career, much like the end of Romeo and Juliet’s love story, abrupt and unexpected.

A beautiful love story is an unfulfilled one?

Steven Gerrard, in Zinedine Zidane’s words, is “Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Lionel Messi and Ronaldo, but, yes, I think he just might be.” With his skill level, Gerrard is deserving of a great career with an open path for the great player he was.

The path G8 walked was full of emotional flavours. Sadly, it was one without prizes and titles, other than the only Premier League Champion’s Cup that Gerrard and his team won after a “miraculous” and “unbelievable” game. 

Gerrard collected few champion’s cups, and failed to get a final hoorah in his last match on Anfield. In every second of that match, we could see a spark of disappointment in his eyes, and a few sighs here and there on his lips. His face, naturally grave, was made more austere that day. He dedicated the zenith of his youth to Liverpool’s cause, but his departure will never be a rosy end to that dedication, no matter how hard we try to make it emotional.

Maybe we should finally let it go and look at things in another perspective. Gerrard won little at Liverpool, but that will help keep the Merseyside Red Devil in his heart. His feelings toward the team will be bittersweet, and he will forever remember the regretful feelings he had when he said goodbye to The Kop.

5,643 days, 254 games, one love story

Steven Gerrard’s final game on Anfield as Liverpool’s captain was the 5,643th day since the first time he stepped on Anfield’s grass (on November 29, 1998, Liverpool vs. Blackburn). After that debut, Gerrard took part in 254 of Liverpool’s games on Anfield. He held the captain position in Liverpool for 12 years before saying goodbye to the Devils. He may have won few trophies, but his place in the heart of true fans is the biggest trophy he won in his years of being a legend.