STEVIE G GOING IN FOR KIL
STEVEN GERRARD played 710 matches for Liverpool – and rarely left the pitch as a villain.
One such occasion was at Anfield in March, 2006, when he was sent off 18 minutes into the Merseyside derby.
Earlier that season, Everton had Phil Neville and Mikel Arteta dismissed at Goodison Park and Liverpool came away with a 3-1 win.
The heavy tackles were soon flying in at Anfield when the sides met again days after Liverpool had thumped Birmingham 7-0 to stay on course for the Champions League – and Everton defender Kevin Kilbane was on the receiving end of a couple.
Xabi Alonso was booked for fouling the Republic of Ireland star, who had once been a target for Liverpool when Gerard Houllier was in charge.
And, seconds later, Gerrard’s name joined him in the referee’s notebook for kicking the ball away in protest at the caution.
Gerrard (below) couldn’t shake off his rage and saw red for clattering Kilbane on the edge of the penalty area, sparking celebrations among Evertonians, who knew how much the Reds’ skipper meant to Rafael Benitez’s team.
Liverpool fans had jeered Neville every time he went near the ball – until deep into first-half injury time when his touch had them celebrating.
Alonso swept a corner towards Everton’s near post where Neville was waiting. But, rather than clear, he diverted his header between keeper Richard Wright and his near post.
Everton’s defence was caught out again three minutes after the restart.
Alan Stubbs and Gary Naysmith hesitated in stopping Luis Garcia, leaving Wright to dash from his goal to sort out the mess.
Garcia sent the ball over his head and into the net with a left-foot flick.
But Tim Cahill gave Everton hope with a 61st-minute header.
There was always the possibility Liverpool would start to feel the pace, but the match became 10-a-side as Andy van der Meyde was sent off for a challenge on Alonso.
And, with six minutes left, Harry Kewell put the game beyond Everton with a 25-yard blast.
Afterwards, Gerrard said: “It’s not very often I’m the villain, but the lads were all heroic – every one of them.”