To a generation of Liverpool supporters, Gerrard is untouchable. He is arguably the finest player ever to play for the club, and what he has contributed since his debut in 1998 has been astonishing. It was clear that the Reds had a special player on their hands during Gerrard's days in the youth team, and by the time he was 20 he was a very important player. The Whiston-born midfielder won a cup treble in 2000/01, and by the time the 2003/04 season rolled around he was winning games on his own at times. His sensational 2005 Champions League Final performance will probably forever define his career, but his goal in the group stages that season, against Olympiakos, was just a vital. His display in the 2006 FA Cup Final was equally sensational, as his stunning last-gasp strike against West Ham took the game to extra-time. It is now dubbed the 'Gerrard Final'. Time and time again the skipper has produced moments of magic in big games- Everton and United fans must be sick of the sight of him- and he has that rare ability to inspire others around him when it really matters. For many years he was among the top two or three midfielders in the world, and although at the age of 34 he has lost some of his spark, he remains a terrific player and one of the first names on Rodgers' team-sheet. Gerrard is a genuine legend of the game.
