Steven Gerrard - Top 10 goals for Liverpool

There can be no denying that Steven Gerrard is one of the greatest footballers of his generation. He is arguably the best player in Liverpool history, although older fans would still rate Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush above Gerrard.As the years have passed by, Gerrard has altered his game and has become a superb deep-lying playmaker, having one of the most ferocious right foots from dead ball situations. When it comes to catalogues of best goals, not many goalscorers can compare to the 34-year-old. He has produced moments of sheer brilliance in the biggest games, swinging massive occasions in the Reds’ favour in the process. From volleys to free kicks, to headers, he has scored from it all in his 16 year stay the club.As evident from the last line of his autobiography, Liverpool and Gerrard’s relationship is something that would have never seemed to end. Let us look at the top 10 most memorable goals, as Gerrard bids adieu to Liverpool Football Club at the end of the season.

#10 Gerrard vs Inter Milan (2008)

In this tense Champions League match in 2007/08, Dirk Kuyt’s strike looked to have sealed a nervy 1-0 lead for Liverpool to take to Milan for the second leg, but Steven Gerrard had other ideas.

Seemingly out of nothing, with just a few minutes left on the clock, Gerrard got the ball on the fight flank, and rifled home a powerful low driven shot right across Julio Cesar’s net. This goal proved to be a massive one in terms of the right frame of mindset heading into the second leg.

Ultimately, Liverpool won the tie 3-0 on aggregate after Torres’ winner at the San Siro, It was Gerrard’s goal that had swung the tie in Liverpool’s favour though.

#9 Gerrard vs Sheffield Wednesday (1999)

After making his Liverpool debut in November 1998, Gerrard failed to make an early impact at Anfield as he was mostly a cover for the injury prone Jamie Redknapp. Apart from a few moments here and there, there was little to cheer for the Kopites with respect to Gerrard.

This was soon to change. On December 5, 1999, though, Gerrard, in his 23rd league appearance for the club broke his duck with a wonderful individual effort in Liverpool's 4-1 defeat of Sheffield Wednesday at Anfield.

After receiving the ball in the middle of the park, the midfield tyro charged forward before taking on two defenders and firing the ball across the face of the goal to send the Kop into raptures.

#8 Gerrard vs Southampton (2001)

With much of Anfield, no doubt, nursing a hangover from the night before, Gerrard ushered in the new millennium on Jan 1, 2001 in much the same way as he would live out the rest of the decade and beyond – by scoring a spectacular long-range goal. 35 yards away from the net, Gerrard picked up the ball confidently, and on an abysmal pitch, rifled a tremedous, dipping shot, right in the top corner of future Liverpool goalkeeper Brad Jones’ goal.

From the celebration, it became evident that there was more in store in the future for fans watching. It was an unforgettable strike and something that would live long in our memories. It was at this time that Gerrard’s reputation sky-rocketted. He would slowly become a regular for both club and country.

#7 Gerrard vs Aston Villa (2007)

A slideshow of Steven Gerrard’s top goals would be incomplete without a free kick or two mentioned. Being a master of dead ball situations, Gerrard brought Liverpool great joy in times of apparent crisis.

Liverpool had lead at Villa Park until the 85th minute, in one of the matches in the first month of the season, when a Gareth Barry penalty levelled the match at 1-1. With just three minutes remaining, up stepped Gerrard with this wicked freekick, right into the top right corner, giving the goalkeeper no chane.

This delivered three points to a delighted travelling support.This win built a platform for Liverpool, although they did not fare very well that season.

#6 Gerrard vs Marseille (2008)

Gerrard is known for his powerful, unstoppable strikes from range, but this goal against Marseille in the 2008/09 Champions League was a thing of great beauty. With Benitez’s men trailing 1-0 they needed inspiration, and Gerrard duly delivered.

Kuyt’s lay-off on the right was slightly behind the skipper, but he made the most of a bad pass, whipping an unbelievable shot across the goalkeeper and into the top left-hand corner of the net. As Gerrard received the pass, many would not have expected him to take the shot, but the precise manner in which he placed the ball away from the goalkeeper, left many astounded.

The Reds went on to win the game 2-1, with Gerrard scoring the winner from the penalty spot.

#5 Gerrard vs Manchester United (2001)

This was the year when Liverpool had won the treble, but for Liverpool fans, there were few moments in that great season as purely enjoyable as Stevie smashing home this 16th-minute screamer.

This strike probably remains the greatest to date, among all the goals he has scored against bitter rivals Manchester United. A poor goal kick from Fabien Barthez found its way to Robbie Fowler, who found Gerrard 30 yards from goal.

A steady touch allowed him to place the ball on his favourite right foot, before unleashing an absolute rocket of a strike into the Anfield Road net. It set Houllier’s side on their way to a 2-0 victory, with Gerrard repaying the favour and setting up Fowler for the second goal.

#4 Gerrard vs AC MIlan (2005)

As Steven Gerrard heads for the Liverpool exit, the satisfaction of having won a Champions League is something that he would definitely treasure for the rest of his life. That evening in May 2005, would go down as one of the greatest comebacks in any football match, let alone the Champions League.

Facing an extremely strong Milan side, an undermanned Liverpool were heading for an embarrassing loss after being down 3-0 at halftime. All hope looked lost at half-time until Gerrard’s moment of inspiration. He headed home John Arne Riise’s cross to make it 3-1, and although he has scored many, many better goals, hardly any were that important.

It inspired Liverpool to produce a famous comeback, eventually drawing 3-3 after extra-time and winning on penalties, and Gerrard lifted club football’s greatest prize at the end of it all.

#3 Gerrard vs Middlesbrough (2008)

A hard-working performance by Liverpool looked to be furnishing them with no better than a point, with the scores locked at 1-1 after 90 minutes. As Liverpool commited men forward to grab the winner, Middlesbrough played on the counter, but they wasted their one good opportunity after careslessly loosing possession in a good situation.

As Xabi Alonso hoofed the ball into the box it fell, kindly, to Gerrard, who curled it into the right of the net from just outside the box. Before the match, all the talk was about the Liverpool newboy Fernando Torres, but the old stalwart Gerrard once again proved how vital he was to Liverpool.

#2 Gerrard vs West Ham (2006)

There are so many great goals to choose from in a Steven Gerrard compilation, and this one definitely ranks as one of his finest. This was the 2006 FA Cup Final, and a rich power struggle had ebbed and flowed from start to finish.

Liverpool were 2-0 down at the end of the first half, but they responded quickly after the break with goals from CIsse and Gerrard, before Paul Konchesky’s fluke put West ham back head. It was surely looking like hearbreak for Rafa Benitez and his team.

With the game drifting into stoppage time, a weary Gerrard, suffering from cramp, swung his leg at the ball 35 yards out, and his shot flew past Shaka Hislop into the net. It was an astonishing moment that no Liverpool fan will ever forget, and they went on to win on penalties. He lifted the famous trophy, safe in the knowledge that he had produced yet another match-winning performance for Liverpool.

This last gasp strike will never ever be forgotten.

#1 Gerrard vs Olympiakos (2004)

When Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005, they made sure that it would not be easy to forget the way they had to accomplish it, right from the group stages. Liverpool were minutes from going out in the group stages during their 2004/05 Champions League-winning season. In a crucial last group stage game against Olympiakos.

Liverpool had to win 1-0 or by two clear goals to knock Olympiakos out, and in turn help them progress to the knock out stages. They led 2-1 and with just a few minutes left, the anxiousness of the Liverpool fans were growing by the second.

Evident from their play, they kept pushing for that goal. Carragher found Neil Mellor just inside the penalty area, and the young striker teed up his captain to perfectly to fire home one of the best half-volleys you are ever likely to see. The ground went absolutely berserk, Gerrard found his way into the crowd to celebrate and the Reds held on to qualify for the last 16.

The rest, as they say, is history.