One to Watch - Steven Gerrard

Name: Steven Gerrard

Date of Birth: 30/5/1980

Nationality: England

Former Clubs: N/A

League Appearances (Goals): 400 (89)

International Appearances (Goals): 90 (19)

Stat of the Day Before Liverpool`s last game against Everton, Steven Gerrard, when in the starting eleven, hadn`t won a Premier League game for Liverpool since March 6th 2011

Right back, left midfield, up front, in goal; Steven Gerrard could play anywhere and he`d still be the best player on the pitch. It`s all too easy to proclaim a player possesses everything, but Steven Gerrard has consistently proven he has all the attributes to rival any player in the world, in any position. Add to that his unparalleled loyalty to Liverpool football club, his eleven major honours, his indispensability to England and whole-hearted, committed playing style and it`s easy to see why he is revered as one of the best players in the world. QPR are about to embark on their run of games from hell, but with relegation all but assured, it would be unwise to not sit back and enjoy the array of world-class players on show - none more so than Steven Gerrard.

For me, a great player is not judged on whether they have won a World Cup, or how many league titles they have won, but whether they have the capacity to influence a game and posses the ability to turn a game on its head with a moment of inspiration or brilliance. Steven Gerrard is certainly one of those players and whether it was his last minute screamer against Olympiakos in 2004 to keep Liverpool`s Champions League hopes alive (much to the delight of Andy Gray), his two goals in the 2006 FA Cup final to haul his team level and eventually guide them to a penalty shootout win, or the first of Liverpool`s three goals in their memorable Champions League comeback against AC Milan, there`s no denying Gerrard has the leadership skills and inspiration required to be considered a world class player.

Playing Career

Steven Gerrard joined Liverpool at the age of nine, signing his first professional contract in 1997 before making his first team debut in November 1998 against Blackburn. He made thirteen appearances in his debut season, playing in both the middle and right of midfield, but his impact was largely limited. Persistent injuries marred his progress but the midfielder had managed to establish himself as a regular by the start of the 1999/2000 season.

It proved to be a momentous campaign for the Whiston-born youngster as he managed to score his first professional goal at Anfield and earn his first senior international cap against Ukraine. By the start of the 2003/2004 season the number 8 had firmly established himself as Liverpool`s on-field leader and it was no surprise when he was handed the captain`s armband in place of Sami Hyypia. In May 2005 Gerrard lifted the club`s fifth European Cup, having inspired one of the greatest comebacks of all time, subsequently earning him the title of UEFA`s Most Valuable Player as well as a nomination for the prestigious Ballon D`Or.

Gerrard`s success has continued to blossom and with eleven major honours with his boyhood club, 90 international caps and numerous individual awards to his name the central midfielder will go down as a Liverpool legend as well as one of the greatest players ever to have graced the Premier League.

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