Goal by goal – the story of Gerrard’s Liverpool century from first to last

Oct 13 2008 by Chris Wright, Liverpool Daily Post

Steven Gerrard celebrates _320

21: 73th minute v Leeds United 3-1 (Home, Premier League, March 23 2003): EL HADJI DIOUF fed Michael Owen inside the area, and after he had twisted past Ian Harte and turned clear of Teddy Lucic, he played the ball back to the incoming Gerrard who side-footed first time into the bottom corner.

22: 90th minute v Charlton 2-1 (Home, Premier League, April 21 2003):DEEP into injury time Gerrard picked the ball up on the right hand side, having feinted to go one way, he forced his way past two Charlton defenders before firing in a low angled drive for the winner.

23: 35th minute (pen) v Birmingham 3-1 (Home, Premier League, November 30 2003): AFTER Florent Sinama-Pongolle had been brought down in the area, Gerrard stepped up to drill home an equaliser from the penalty spot.

24: 69th minute Bolton 2-2 (Away, Premier League, February 07 2004): SUBSTITUTE Florent Sinama-Pongolle ran at the Bolton defence and sent a pass out to the left to compatriot Anthony Le Tallec, and his clipped cross was volley homed right-footed into the bottom corner by Gerrard to earn Liverpool a point.

25: 51st minute v Manchester City 2-1 (Home, Premier League, February 11 2004): WITH the score at 1-1, Gerrard popped up with the winner. Michael Owen was in on goal after Anthony Le Tallec’s cross from the right had bounced through a ruck of players. David James saved at the striker’s feet but was powerless to stop the close range follow-up from Gerrard.

26: 66th minute v Levski Sofia 2-0 (Home, UEFA Cup, February 26 2004): A SHORT corner was only half cleared by the Bulgarian defence to Gerrard around 20 yards from goal and he volleyed in low. The midfielder ran down the touchline to embrace then manager Gerard Houllier, who had been under pressure following some poor results.

27: Sixth minute v Levski Sofia 4-2 (Away, UEFA Cup, March 03 2004): Gerrard virtually assured Liverpool a place in the last 16 with the opener. Sofia centre-back Ilian Stoyanov’s short backpass went straight to Gerrard and he skipped around goalkeeper Dimitar Ivankov and despite a narrowing angle he found the far corner.

28: 85th minute v Birmingham 3-0 (Away, Premier League, May 8 2004): A SUPERB man-of-the-match display was capped by the third goal of the afternoon. Gerrard took Danny Murphy’s crossfield pass on his chest and after holding off a defender he superbly sidefooted home into the far corner from an acute angle.

29: 23th minute v Graz AK 2-0 (Away, Champions League, August 10 2004): DIETMAR HAMANN teed up Gerrard fully 30 yards from goal and he fired an unstoppable rising shot past Graz.

30: 79th minute v Graz AK 2-0 (Away, Champions League, August 10 2004): Gerrard started and finished the move. His searching pass put Cisse in space, who played the ball into Harry Kewell by the penalty spot and he teed up to send another powerful drive past the Graz keeper.