Gerrard 'hurt' to be subbed

Liverpool captain plans Benitez talks

Last updated: 22nd October 2007

Gerrard 'hurt' to be subbed

Gerrard: Derby substitution

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Steven Gerrard was 'hurt and disappointed' to be substituted in the Merseyside derby on Saturday.

Gerrard was taken off with 20 minutes to go of Liverpool's 2-1 win at Goodison Park, and was clearly baffled at Rafa Benitez's decision.

However, Benitez explained that he took Gerrard off because he wanted more control in midfield, saying: "In this game, sometimes you need to play with the brain and we were playing with heart. We needed to keep the ball and pass the ball."

Important

Gerrard told The Liverpool Echo: "I'm a local lad so the derby is really important to me and I would have liked nothing better than to play the full game and to be on the pitch when we got the winner.

"But as it turned out I was taken off and Lucas Leiva who replaced me played a crucial role in us getting the winning goal.

"I was hurt and disappointed at being taken off because, like I said, I'm a local lad and the derby means everything to me."

The Liverpool skipper confirmed that he will ask Benitez to explain his decision, but isn't getting too worked up about it:

Chat

He added: "I'll be speaking to the manager about it just to find out why I was substituted, but I won't be banging on his door or anything like that.

"We'll just have a chat and whatever is said will remain between us. But I've been in the game long enough to know that no-one is going to play every minute of every game and there will be times when I'm taken off like everyone else."

Gerrard went on to admit that he has been in poor form in recent weeks, but promised to work his way back with the help of the club's fans:

"I know I haven't been at my best lately but I'm doing everything I can to get back there and having that kind of backing really does make a difference.

"I'm working back towards my best and knowing the fans are behind me will definitely help me get there much quicker."

Comments (28)

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Razik Shaikh (Liverpool fan) says...

Good result for Liverpool. Good chance to see another Player - Lucas - who is in fact the current Brazilian Footballer of the Year or something like that! I would have prefered Momo going off at the time, but 3 points is 3 points. Clattenburg made some errors, but so did Styles when we played Chelsea - what goes around comes around - EFC will have their day. So about SG's reaction - was it warrented? Probably yes. But the fact that he is a prem league footballer and it was against EFC is what has blown this out of proportion. If This was Peterborough Utd v brentford nobody would have cared - right? I think SG did the right thing and spoke to RB offline at Melwood and it's all sorted. Was RB right? Well we won, right, but i think Momo should have gone off. Um, about LFC's form - i don't think it's down to Paco leaving. I think it's more down to Xabi being out of the team. The sooner he comes back the better.....

Posted 10:03 23rd October 2007

Micky Greenwood (Liverpool fan) says...

At the end of the day we all know how much Gerrard gives to Liverpool and that is not in doubt, People question Rafa's methods on a regular basis and the question of if we can win the premiership remains to be seen. However since being incharge he hasn't done a bad job and i'm sure if he was percieved to be useless by everyone he wouldn't be there. I understand why Gerrard was upset but the decision was for the benefit of the team and it paid off. Stevie needs to crack on now and let it go.

Posted 09:16 23rd October 2007

Peter Kibanya (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa was right. Stevie G was playing emotionally because he is a "local lad" and the game was important to him as he puts it. This clearly affected his usual style of play and the team at large due to his position both in the field and as the captain. He still played his part earlier on superbly and should accept that Lucas was a worthy sub.Questioning the manager's decision only exposes his fear that he is performing below par because the team eventually won. Indeed, the team was winnimg easilly when he was sidelined due to the unfotunate injury.Too many wins in his absence and too many drab draws in his presence is his worst fear. However, the manager should not change a winning outfit too often!

Posted 08:45 23rd October 2007

Louis Coleiro (Liverpool fan) says...

Players know that sometime or another they will be taken off the pitch. For gerard it simply happened in the derby. I don't see anything out of this world. Benitez is one of the best coaches around and the substitution was fruitfull as Lucas was there to give the last blow to win the game. A squad of 30 players is there to use it.

Posted 08:41 23rd October 2007

Pete Evans (Liverpool fan) says...

Rafa took off Gerrard insted of Momo because Momo is'nt playing well at the moment and needs confidence taking him off that earily in the game would of only lowered it even more. Lucas is a very good young player who in the darby played some good football. he played a fine ball to vorinin out to the left he cut inside and wasted a good chance plus he was there to scoure the winner but the gimps brother saved the ball on the line.At the end of the day the players lose the manager his job so its up to the manager every week to keep it with his desisions Raffa got it right 3 points won. if we win game in hand only 2 points behind utd i would of took that at the statr of the sesson an so would most of you.We sing in the kop you never walk alone so lets keep it that way we won.

Posted 07:52 23rd October 2007

Matt Hardy (Liverpool fan) says...

I think the press is making a mountain out of a molehill here... yes he says he is disappointed but he says enough other stuff to indicate that he isn't going to make a big deal out of it. Quite frankly the heading of the article is deceptive. He's a great player but history will show that the guy who replaced him was the catalyst for the penalty with the shot which was cleared spectacularly off the line by ol' Phil Neville. Let's leave it be people.

Posted 05:39 23rd October 2007

Ruairi O'connor (Liverpool fan) says...

I am a long time Liverpool fan and I have to say , I am completely sick of Gerrard. He obviously thinks he plays for Stevie G fc! He is never done complaining or moaning and is always top full of self importance. I even saw an interview with him recently where he was advising the England manager on who to play beside him. For me Gerrard does not show up often enough and goes missing for long spells every game. He is not a motivator and not worthy of a place in our middle. He should play on the right and shut up. Can you imagine Ronaldo, who is a far better player, demanding to play in a certain position or telling the press he will have a word with Ferguson about being subtituted. It is laughable. We could make a lot of money for him and I think we could build a better team without him. Anyone have the opta stats on winning % with and without him? I would love to know.

Posted 05:14 23rd October 2007

Kevin Ledger says...

Short sharp and sweet, the reds will not win the premiership as long as BENITEZ is there, the rotation system is ok for teams with like chelsea , man u , barcelona, who have a host of world class players, liverpool only have a couple in Gerrard , Torres , thats all, Benitez has acquired only mediocre players since he became manager, with a few exceptions , and most of the good one,s have moved on to better things, sack him now before its too late,, another season to look forward to without the premiership title, and those who say they win it are deluding themselves, as a redsfan since 1959, its time i started watching my home town team,( BARNSLEY ) at least they will have a chance without Benitez,

Posted 02:54 23rd October 2007

Chris K (Liverpool fan) says...

With a trip to Turkey and a game against Arsenal coming up I was expecting him to be subbed at some stage during the game. Lucas is the most promising youngster at the club and needs to be given time. He is also a wild card who could have produced anything. Gerrard in comparison was not playing that well as far as likelyhood of being a match winner - they had equal ability at the end of that game.

Posted 02:52 23rd October 2007

Rory Hall (Northampton Town fan) says...

Kevin, I must fundamentally disagree with your comment. As much as Liverpool are having a rather bad run at the moment and, yes, were very lucky to win on Saturday, I think your attack of Benitez is a little harsh and unfounded. People go on and on about his rotation policy, his strange substitutions etc etc But no-one, least of all you or me, are ever going to be able to explain why those decisions happened - so why bother coming on here just to have a go and jump on the bandwagon? Maybe he won't win the Premiership this season, but to say he would have been fired by now is absurd and I think you know that.

Posted 02:39 23rd October 2007

Kevin Kelly (Arsenal fan) says...

I think Gerrard sometimes plays the ball too quickly, looking for the killer pass. Watch how often he hits it first time. Sometimes you need that other times you don't. I think that is what Benitez meant. He wanted to err on the side of keeping the ball a bit more and they were giving up possession too much.

Posted 19:12 22nd October 2007

Mike Gray (Liverpool fan) says...

No player is bigger than manager in a football club regardless how talismanic the former is. Although i was gutted to see gerrard subbed, but i have to respect Rafa's decision. He has a plan of his own and clearly knows what he is doing. At the end of the day, he'll be responsible for every decision he made whether the result is right or wrong.

Posted 18:42 22nd October 2007

Greg Silvester says...

The way you're all moaning on here anyone would think we'd lost the game. Benitez was spot on - we won - end of story.

Posted 17:30 22nd October 2007

Mark Sopp (Liverpool fan) says...

I think Rafa was a very lucky man had LFC not won he would have been roasted not only by the press but by the fans,there is no debating his knowledge of the game but some of his decisions are totally baffling,EFC were down to 10 men and he keeps two holding midfielders on and takes off one of the best attacking midfielders in this country and then waites until the 88th minute before bringing a attacking player (Pennant) for Momo,only a moment of madness in the last kick of the game by the ref gave the reds there win. Bottom line if he keeps changing the side every week by 4 5 or 6 players Lfc is not gonna win the title.

Posted 17:28 22nd October 2007

Kevin Blake says...

Benitez proved again on Saturday why he will never win the Prem. Leaving two defensive midfielders (Sissoko and Mascherano) on against 10 men was bizarre enough, but subbing his likeliest matchwinner in Gerrard beggared belief. To say he did this because there was "too much passion" in his team says it all about how fundamentally he misunderstands the English game. I mean, who wants passion in a Merseyside derby??? In the end, he was fortunately spared by the ref who handed the game to Liverpool by denying the most nailed on pen of the season to Everton at the death. Benitez is living on his record in the Champs League. His ruinous rotation policy, baffling tactics, and continued inability to grasp the realities of the Prem would otherwise have got him the sack by now.

Posted 17:19 22nd October 2007

Roop Johal (Liverpool fan) says...

Gerrard is a brilliant player and the captain of the club. But that does not mean he is above the manager or the other players. The manager is there for a reason, and he hired to make decisions. Sometimes to go forward in life, you have to make tough decisions, and at first they will be looked at negatively. But it can only be assessed when the outcome has been obtained. And Lucas played, and did not put a foot wrong when replacing Gerrard. Rafa wanted to see what this kid is made of, and what better way to test him than thrust him into the Merseyside Derby? It shows the depth in midfield we have, and gives the manager confidence in the future with players like Lucas. However, I would have liked to have seen Sissoko off for Lucas.

Posted 17:11 22nd October 2007

Ryan Corless (Manchester City fan) says...

Steven Gerrard is a quality player and is extremley important to Liverpool, I don't understand why he was substitued either, but it should end there. Liverpool won the game and the time has passed. It is up to Rafa if he is on the pitch, personally I don't agree with the decision but I also don't agree with what a fuss Gerrard is making, he needs to ask himself the question, would he have rather won the game 2-1 but have only played 70 minutes, or stay at 1-1 but he played the full 90. Good Luck though Liverpool, I hope you do United and Chelsea.

Posted 17:04 22nd October 2007

Richard Godley (Blackburn Rovers fan) says...

Disappointed in Gerrard. I'm not a Liverpool fan, but wanted him to be England captain for his respectability and commitment. Recently he's losing that and I think Saturdays awful derby match was the epitamy of his bad form. Even though Mccarthy is most likely to score for Rovers, he knows he is not above the team and accepts it when Hughes feels he needs another approach just as Gerrard should accept and respect Rafa's plans. Stevie needs to find his form and his team ethic before he has any chance of being considered for England captain now.

Posted 16:47 22nd October 2007

Pius Mandava (Liverpool fan) says...

Stevie G is an excellent player by whatever yardstick one uses to measure,however for him to question his manager for being substituted is thick.How does he think other players feel when being substituted derby/no derby.Grow up put the team before self & you will continue to inspire Liverpool.Just ignore all that media nonsense and let your football be your spokesperson.Good luck next time!

Posted 16:43 22nd October 2007

Rafa Speard says...

Why take Gerrard off with just 20 minutes to go? It's beyond me. Ever since Paco Ayesteran left Liverpool last month it has affected them. I am thinking that Paco had more of a hand in team selection and development than we are led to believe. I'm frustrated at why Rafa continues to play around with the team. These players are athletes. They should not be benched a third of the way through a season. Stuff rotation. Liverpool's best chance of winning the Premiership is.... if they get out of Europe ASAP!

Posted 16:16 22nd October 2007
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