Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard steps down from Everton jibe

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Steven Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has backtracked on his claims that Everton play long-ball football.

Speaking immediately after Sunday's 2-2 Merseyside derby draw, Gerrard likened Everton's style of play to that of Stoke, but he has now moved to clarify his views.

"I've watched the game again, and I've seen some of Everton's matches this season," he told the Liverpool Echo.external-link

"What I said in relation to their style of play went too far."

Gerrard said his outburst was borne from a sense of grievance over Liverpool striker Luis Suarez's stoppage-time winner

"I was frustrated by the disallowed goal from Luis when I spoke and also some of the things that have been said about Luis in recent weeks which haven't been fair in my opinion," he told the paper.

"As captain I have a duty to stand up for our players when I feel they are unfairly singled out.

"But it wasn't my intention to disrespect Everton or Stoke for that matter and I certainly didn't intend any disrespect to their manager or players.

"I have the utmost respect for [Everton manager] David Moyes and [Stoke boss] Tony Pulis and the job they have done at their respective clubs.

"My main issue was with the goal that wasn't given and that Liverpool did not get the three points I felt we deserved in what was a fantastic derby match."

Gerrard's initial claims were not reflected in the match statistics, which showed that Everton enjoyed greater possession, made more passes and completed proportionally fewer long passes than Liverpool.

The comments were also laughed off by Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

"It does make you chuckle, but Stevie is saying things like that then there must be a reason behind it which must be that we are doing something well," said Jagielka.

"If Stevie says we play long ball then I'm not going to deny it. Do we play them for the full 90 minutes? No. But we play quite direct.

"We don't believe in passing it around for half an hour for the sake of it. We won't change the way we play."

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361 comments

  • Fair play to him for backing down. I can't think of many other footballers or managers who would've done the same.

  • Has he just realised stoke are only a point behind them and Everton are six in front?

  • Neville dived for probably the first (and last) time in his career and the bitters are nursing semis about it.

    Neville also ADMITTED it, APOLOGISED, and said his manager berated him for it.

    He made a mistake but he manned up with the class and dignity we expect from both him and Everton.

    Over to you, Liverpool .....

  • Maybe he realised that if he insults Stoke too much, then he won't be able to play for them at the end of his career...

  • He never said sorry. It's not an apology. He's realised how wrong he was and wants to make it seem as though it was innocent mistake. In all fairness, it was, the media have made a small comment huge. I think he should stick to the field and boss the midfield like he does week in week out.

  • Too many people in our society seem to think that a simple apology is adequate in order to forgive someone. It's quite obvious that Gerrard meant what he said initially, he's more sorry he's received a negative reaction for it than sorry for what he believes in. His opinion of Everton, with which agree to a certain extent, is now public knowledge, no matter how much he denies it.

  • Its sad to see Phil Jagielka get things so horribly wrong in the article above. The stats clearly show that Liverpool were incapable of passing the ball around for half an hour!

  • The original comments by Gerrard were not worthy of the attention the BBC gave to them, and nor is the story that he has now changed his mind. We have had an endless stream of tabloidesque quotes from footballers recently, all deemed worthy of a comment section by the BBC, while more important issues are ignored eg Serbia charging our Under 21 players with criminal offences. Give it a rest !

  • i wonder if steven is going to blame swansea tonight for playing football on the deck. I think in future he should show a team like Everton a lot more respect. Because considering what Liverpool have spent and what Everton have spent, there should be no way that Everton should even be close but Everton have finished above them last season and were only a few points behind the season before.

  • Liverpool HOOF the BALL, Liverpool HOOF the BALL

  • Gerrard is only opening his mouth in attempt to get give the deludes something to talk about in order to detract them from his inept performances.

    He has made a career of playing long balls, diving and producing over the top two footed tackles.

    Gerrard is passed his sell by date and should be ignored.

  • Well iam sure the big PR machine at anfield has looked at the reaction from not only everton fans but stoke fans and a lot of other clubs ,i am still cross with gerrard .

  • ...rather see long balls than cheats.

    Seems Liverpool have plenty of both.

  • I think its to Gerrards credit that he has admitted he was mistaken in what he said, quite a few others involved in the game dont have the cahoonas to admit they made a mistake (players, managers, refs and linesman included).

    Phil Jagielka was spot on though about Everton- "But we play quite direct.
    We don't believe in passing it around for half an hour for the sake of it."

    Liverpool take note

  • Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard steps down from Everton jibe

    -------------------

    By questioning Evertons desire to play on a 200 metre long pitch?

  • Don't Liverpool play like Southampton?

  • He didn't even apologise, all he did was acknowledge he was wrong.

  • As I write this, Swansea FC are dominating (although there's plenty of time for a turnaround) Liverpool, dominating possession and generally outplaying the team in red.

    Question is - how long will it be until Stevie GBH starts slating Swansea for 'playing like Stoke'?

  • 219
    Susan:
    'He should have more dignity'

    And therein my friend you have summarised the failing of an entire football club..

  • Who does Gerard think he is coming out with these comments in the first place. He realises he's in a poor team that's going nowhere and will win nothing while he's there, I bet he watched the later game with much jealousy. He's now making his reputation as a man even worse as well, what a joke. This apology means nothing. No-one cares about you Gerard, you should have moved on years ago.

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