Emerging through Liverpool‘s youth academy in 1998, Gerrard established himself as one of English football’s most iconic players during his 17-year period on Merseyside. The midfielder scored 186 goals in 710 appearances in a trophy-laden spell which saw him lift two FA Cups, three League Cups and the 2005 Champions League amongst several other honours. However, the only major trophy Gerrard was unable to lift with Liverpool was the Premier League title, coming desperately close on a couple of occasions.
Having finished second in the 2008-09 season, just four points behind eventual champions Manchester United, Gerrard and Liverpool put together another title tilt in 2013-14 under Brendan Rodgers. However, with destiny in their own hands as the club chased a first league title since 1990 at the time, Liverpool fell to a 2-0 home defeat against Chelsea on April 27, 2014, with Gerrard making an unfortunate error during the match. Dominating possession against Jose Mourinho’s stubborn Blues, Gerrard suddenly slipped as he failed to control the ball, leading to Demba Ba racing through on goal to put Chelsea in front. Willian then doubled Chelsea’s lead late on in a result which saw Liverpool lose control of the title race to Manchester City, who then went on to lift their only league crown under manager Manuel Pellegrini.
And while Gerrard says he generally does not think about his fatal slip against Chelsea, the 45-year-old has revealed that – along with mistakes he made with England on the international stage – he is occasionally tormented by mishaps which prevented him adding more gloss to what was a legendary playing career.
Speaking to the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, Gerrard opened up about the mistakes he made during his playing days, saying: “I’m not sure what comes up the most. I feel good speaking about the good stuff. Istanbul, Olympiacos, theFA Cup, you know… anyway, you feel great.
“And when I do interviews or I see a clip on the telly or blah, blah, blah… and I see a s*** backpass I gave away for England, or I underperformed for England, missed a penalty for England, I feel s***.
“The Chelsea thing is exactly the same. It makes me feel s***. It is what it is. I’ve got to live with it, I’ve managed it, I control it. Does it pop up every day of my life? No, it doesn’t. Do I have to accept it and be man enough? Yeah, I can’t change it.
“But all the s*** moments I have in my career, they rear themselves every now and again. But so does the good stuff. So I have to take the rough with the smooth. But I hate losing football matches. I hate underachieving.
“And I sit here now still here not winning the Premier League. Not just that year, every single year I competed in it. Because I felt at Liverpool, being the captain, I should have delivered that. So I have to take the responsibility and own that.
“But I don’t overthink about individual moments, good or bad. I just deal with them as and when they come up. But they do come in and out of my thoughts.”
Since retiring from professional football in 2016 following a short stint with Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy, Gerrard has since ventured into management. After spending three years in charge of Rangers, in which he led the club to the 2020-21 Scottish Premiership title, Gerrard then had short spells with both Aston Villa and Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq. He is currently being linked with a return to Rangers after manager Russell Martin was sacked following the club’s poor start to the 2025-26 season.
