Gerrard hails teammates

[CarraLegend]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

 

STEVEN GERRARD hailed his "heroic" Liverpool team-mates after admitting he had been "stupid" to be sent off at Anfield on Saturday.

 

Rafael Benitez's side clinched the 203rd Merseyside derby by beating Everton 3-1, despite playing 72 minutes with only 10 men after Gerrard was needlessly dismissed early on.

 

The Liverpool skipper was cautioned by referee Phil Dowd in the 17th minute for kicking the ball away, and was then shown a second yellow card and a subsequent red less than a minute later following a poor challenge on Kevin Kil-bane.

 

Gerrard was forced to watch on a television monitor outside the dressing room his outnumbered colleagues battled to a third successive derby victory, although Everton were also reduced to 10 men on 73 minutes when Andy van der Meyde was sent off for elbowing Xabi Alonso.

 

"You wouldn't have known we had 10 men for so long. I can't praise them enough.

 

"They certainly made me feel better about things at the end."

 

Of his sending-off, Gerrard said: "I'm more disappointed with the first booking than the second one.

 

"The first one was just stupid on my part but for the second one I thought he was going to strike the ball and I just went into the tackle. Those challenges are part and parcel of derbies.

 

"It is not very often that I am the villain and I ended up watching the rest of the game on a TV monitor outside the dressing room because you are not allowed back outside when you have been sent off."

 

Benitez has called for people not to overreact following Gerrard's dismissal, which was his second in a Merseyside derby after being red-carded in Liverpool's last home defeat to Everton in September 1999.

 

And the Spaniard believes the skipper - who had only been booked three times in 45 previous appearance for Liverpool this season - can learn from his first sending-off since the final game of the season at Chelsea in May 2003.

 

"I'd spoken to everyone in the past about the need to stay calm and use their brains," said Benitez. "In this case, with Steven, it's not easy.

 

"The first (booking) was a mis-take and we can learn about that for the future. He knows what he's done. He understands. I don't think it's a case of mental burnout.

 

"The team was under pressure and he tried to tackle for the second. In this case, it was a disciplinary mistake, then the other one was a technical mistake. Different things.

 

"He's a player who's scored 19 times for his team. People should not overreact. For me, the most important thing is to realise that this is a situation we can learn from in the future so it doesn't happen again."

 

Benitez added: "Having won this game, maybe the best thing is that we can now show the players that they have to be careful. These mistakes can hurt you.

"If we'd played in the FA Cup, a one-off game, you have to be careful because you can see what happens. You have to be in control.

 

"Stevie has so much energy. These things can be good for him in the future.

 

"Perhaps he can learn from this experience (in big games, like a World Cup match), and the best news from this is that we have won."

 

Gerrard will now serve a one-match suspension, which rules him out of Liverpool's game at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

[Stevie H]

 

And the Spaniard believes the skipper - who had only been booked three times in 45 previous appearance for Liverpool this season - can learn from his first sending-off since the final game of the season at Chelsea in May 2003.

 

surprised me reading that this morning. apparently he's only been booked nine times since 2003.

[CarraLegend]

surprised me reading that this morning. apparently he's only been booked nine times since 2003.

 

A hell of a stat really considering the way he plays.

[Guest Sabre]

He just got a rush of blood on Saturday. You can bet your last dollar that he won't do it again any time soon

[Guest Jodus]

Best thing that could have happened, him being sent off -

 

1. He gets basically a 2 game rest.

2. Xabi gets out from under his shadow a little, in time for the World Cup.

3. We prove that we are far too good for the blueshyte even with 10 men!

[Guest Jackass]

http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0500liv...-name_page.html

 

"I'd spoken to everyone in the past about the need to stay calm and use their brains," said Benitez. "In this case, with Steven, it's not easy.

 

Matt Damon!

 

[Benitez]

Rafa's comments regards the sending off where good an all. Pointing that for shhhure he was daft, but also that he's done so much for the team, and that he'll learn from it.

 

No huge fuss, just learn the lesson and move on.

 

Of course, thats easier after you just thumped Everton

[sutty]

surprised me reading that this morning. apparently he's only been booked nine times since 2003.

 

 

The mancs whinge about that all the time.

 

He's the new Brian Robson

[AE]

Rafa's comments regards the sending off where good an all. Pointing that for shhhure he was daft, but also that he's done so much for the team, and that he'll learn from it.

 

No huge fuss, just learn the lesson and move on.

 

Of course, thats easier after you just thumped Everton

 

 

Aye, but I bet he could have throttled him at 13:05 on Saturday

[Guest bigbak]

Aye, but I bet he could have throttled him at 13:05 on Saturday

 

It's hard to feel bad for a player that's done so much for the team this season. I was disappointed and expecting a defeat. Most of us would be sent off inside 5 minutes if we played in a Merseyside derby.

[Swipe]

He's a great captain. Hard and committed, but doesn't moan to refs and rarely gets silly bookings.

 

 

 

I'd probably get a red card during the warm up...

 

[intense enigma]

Just watched the FOX coverage of the match and at the start the American chap announces "players making their way out onto the pitch at anfield for the merseyside derby...Liverton welcomes Everton"

Edited March 27, 2006 by intense enigma

[Mad_Fer_It]

stevie never gets booked for challenges he should be...

 

don't know if its because he's the team captain or because the refs' are in awe of him, but he always gets away with some bad tackles

[Ronnie Whelan]

He just got a rush of blood on Saturday. You can bet your last dollar that he won't do it again any time soon

 

I hope it does happen again. Any lessening in his intensity and he will be playing an entirely different game. Im afraid that this type of incident is part of his game.

Edited March 27, 2006 by Ronnie Whelan