STEVEN GERRARD HAS revealed former Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers told the rest of the squad to “bail” the midfielder out after his infamous slip against Chelsea in 2014.
Gerrard fell over as he attempted to control the ball, which allowed Demba Ba to run through on goal and score, with the Blues going on to win the game 2-0.
That result derailed Liverpool’s bid for the Premier League title, just as they appeared set to end their 24-year wait to be crowned champions of England’s top flight.
“I had been straining the whole half to make something happen, so had Luis [Suarez],” writes Gerrard in his autobiography.
“Chelsea just kept blunting us. And then I’d slipped. The dressing room was hushed.”
“Look,” Brendan said, imploring the other players, “if anyone deserves to be bailed out it’s him.” His finger pointed at me. “Your captain needs you to all pay him back.
“The amount of times he’s pulled this club out of a mess and changed impossible situations and got players out of trouble are the stuff of legend.
“Now it’s time you repay him. You’ve got forty-five minutes to do it.” Brendan looked at me. “Stevie, forget it,” he said. “It happens. Let’s all go out and win this game. We can do it.”
Gerrard left Liverpool at the end of last season and joined LA Galaxy, with the Premier League title remaining the only trophy that evaded him during his career with the Reds.
