Steven Gerrard saves the day for Liverpool
It's been a tumultuous season for one of England's most successful clubs, but after pulling themselves out of the relegation zone over the weekend, Liverpool got probably their best result of the season when they beat Napoli 3-1 in Europa League action on
Thursday, 4 November.
After Argentine striker Ezequiel Lavezzi had put Napoli ahead in the 28th minute, it began to look as though the game might be slipping away for the home side. But that's when Steven Gerrard decided to take over.
Gerrard came on the pitch as a substitute to start the second half. With only a quarter of an hour remaining it looked as though Napoli had the result in hand until a lackadaisical back pass was intercepted by Gerrard who's determination worked it past Morgan
De Sanctis in the Napoli goal.
With that, Liverpool had snatched at least a point, but Gerrard was not done. After Glen Johnson made a decisive run into the box before being tripped, it was Gerrard who stepped up to fire home the penalty and put Liverpool into the lead.
Gerrard's inspirational performance was made complete only a minute later when he burst through a despondent Napoli defence and chipped the ball past De Sanctis to complete his hat trick.
"It is the presence he has got," Liverpool midfielder Jay Spearing said of Gerrard after his memorable performance. "He is probably the best midfielder in the world and he showed it again tonight, coming on for 45 minutes and getting three goals. It is the
presence he brings and the boost it gives us and we showed it in the second half. We went out and gave it a go. His attitude to the game shows through and affects the rest of the lads."
Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson was equally impressed with the impact that Gerrard had on the game. "It was outstanding. In the first half we hadn't played that badly and were unlucky to be a goal down to an error which was punished. His entry onto the field
was a catalyst. It galvanised the crowd and the team and the way he scored the first goal epitomised the energy and the spirit the team showed in the second half."
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