Penalty hero Steven Gerrard: That was my worst performance yet

Apr 8 2008

Steven Gerrard always believed he would score the match-turning penalty that put Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals tonight despite what he described as one of his worst ever performances.

Gerrard netted his side’s crucial third goal from the spot to deny Arsenal and set up a third last-four meeting with Chelsea in the last four years.

He told ITV1: “That was possibly one of the worst performances I’ve ever put in in a Liverpool shirt.

“But I still had the confidence to score the penalty.”

On an epic night at Anfield, Arsenal deservedly led through Abou Diaby before Sami Hyypia levelled.

Fernando Torres put Liverpool in front only for a superb Theo Walcott run to set up Emmanuel Adebayor to level on the night and put the Gunners ahead on away goals.

But substitute Ryan Babel was brought down in the box almost immediately with Gerrard scoring and the Dutchman netted a fourth as Liverpool won 4-2 on the night and to clinch the quarter-final 5-3 on aggregate.

Asked how the match compared to other Anfield nights of drama, Gerrard said: “That’s up there with them.

“Arsenal are a fantastic team. A times today, they passed us of the pitch.

“In the end we’ve come through.

“It was a great team performance tonight.”