The best goal Steven Gerrard has seen?

Liverpool legend and current Rangers manager Steven Gerrard proclaimed Kemar Roofe’s audacious goal for the Gers last week against Standard Liege in the Europa League as “the best goal I’ve ever seen live”, which is quite a compliment for someone who has played at the level Gerrard has. In this piece, we look at whether Roofe’s goal really is number one, and run through some of the contenders for the title of the best goal Steven Gerrard has seen live.

🗣️ Rangers manager Steven Gerrard on Kemar Roofe's special strike…

The best goal you've seen since ________ #UEL pic.twitter.com/c8MCsuBdMu

— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) October 22, 2020

For clarification, this is any goal that took place in a game that Steven Gerrard played in for Liverpool, England or LA Galaxy, scored by Gerrard, team-mates, or opposition players, or a goal in a game Gerrard has witnessed as Rangers manager.

This means that there is no place for Wayne Rooney’s screamer for England against Brazil in 2013, as Gerrard missed the game through injury. There is an honourable mention for Emmanuel Adebayor’s tap-in after Theo Walcott’s barnstorming run for Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-final of 2008, while Amir Zaki’s acrobatic strike at Anfield for Wigan in the same year doesn’t quite make it either.

Time for the top 20…

20: Borna Barisic / St Mirren 0-1 Rangers / 25^th August 2019

We start with a goal from Gerrard’s managerial career, Croatian left-back Borna Barisic sweeping home a gorgeous pinpoint free-kick to secure an important 1-0 win away at St Mirren early last season. Gerrard hailed this as one of the best technical free-kicks he had seen.

 

19: Cristiano Ronaldo / Liverpool 0-3 Real Madrid / 22^nd October 2014

 

Liverpool were humbled by a world-class Real Madrid side at Anfield in the Champions League group stages back in 2014, and unfortunately for him, Gerrard had the best view in the house. The quick passing exchanges between Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, then the hooked ball by now-Everton man James Rodriguez, and the amazing finish of Ronaldo to cap off a red-hot move.

 

18: Steven Gerrard / LA Galaxy 5-2 Real Salt Lake / 24^th April 2016

 

We now go across the pond to see Gerrard score his first goal of the 2016 MLS season for LA Galaxy and to wrap up a convincing win over Real Salt Lake City. The feint to take the ball away from the defenders and then the calm finish into the corner. Beautiful stuff.

 

17: David Beckham / England 2-2 Greece / 6^th October 2001

Next up is David Beckham’s inch-perfect free-kick at Old Trafford late on to send England to the 2002 World Cup. The Manchester United star left the Greek goalkeeper rooted to the spot and had the bottle to rescue his country in injury time.

 

16: Xabi Alonso / Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United / 21^st September 2006

Alonso has scored a few of these in his career, and this one was genuinely exceptional. He takes a few touches and almost decides against it, before unleashing his weighted shot past Steve Harper (what is he doing?) to score a highly memorable goal.

 

15: Erik Edman / Liverpool 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur / 16^th April 2005

By this stage of Rafael Benitez’s first season at Liverpool, the league was playing second fiddle to the Champions League, meaning Reds fans could appreciate Tottenham defender Erik Edman scoring his only Premier League goal just a little bit more. What a hit.

 

14: Fernando Torres / Liverpool 4-0 Blackburn Rovers / 11^th April 2009

Though Gerrard was on the bench for this match, it still counts, as he saw the goal live. Torres controls the outstanding sprayed pass from Jamie Carragher, turns, and lashes home an unstoppable strike. Liverpool in 2008/09 were so special.

 

13: Zinedine Zidane / France 2-1 England / 13^th June 2004

We come to another talisman rescuing their country with a brilliant free-kick now, except England are on the receiving end this time in Euro 2004. Gerrard and his countrymen had done marvellously to lead the game until the latter stages, but when France had Zizou over the ball for this free-kick in injury time, there was only one outcome.

 

12: Patrick Vieira / Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal / 28^th November 2004

Sticking with generational French midfielders now, we come to someone who, along with Gerrard, is one of the greatest midfielders the Premier League has ever seen. Vieira plays a neat ball into the feet of Thierry Henry, who combines with Robert Pires. Pires sends Vieira through with a delicious ball and it’s a composed finish from the man that Arsenal have never replaced. A goal made by three Frenchmen. More from this game later.

 

11: Didier Drogba / Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool / 17^th September 2006

A regular foe of Liverpool, Didier Drogba loved bagging against the Reds. In this early-season encounter in 2006/07, the Ivorian striker spins superbly and slams home the winning goal. Wonderful technique.

 

10: Dimitar Berbatov / Manchester United 3-2 Liverpool / 20^th September 2010

A game in which Gerrard scored twice himself, but it was the man who went one better and got a hat-trick that grabbed the headlines. The effortless and elegant Dimitar Berbatov secured three points for United against Roy Hodgson’s Liverpool with this stunning overhead kick.

 

9: Laurent Robert / Liverpool 2-1 Newcastle United / 24^th January 2004

An absolute rocket of a free-kick from Newcastle’s wizard-like Frenchman, Laurent Robert. This was in an FA Cup tie at Anfield late on in the Houllier era. Though the Reds won the game – thanks to a brace from no other than Bruno Cheyrou – this strike from Robert was the main highlight of the match.

 

8: Phil Jagielka / Liverpool 1-1 Everton / 27^th September 2014

One that really, really hurt. Liverpool looked to have sewn the derby up early in 2014/15, courtesy of a fabulous free-kick from Gerrard. However, Brendan Rodgers’ team were denied, despite creating a hatful of chances, when the unlikeliest of sources, Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka, struck home a glorious shot right into the top corner, out of the reach of Simon Mignolet. Injury time agony.

 

7: Steven Gerrard / Liverpool 3-1 Olympiacos / 8^th December 2004

A goal which is as famous for Martin Tyler and Andy Gray as it is Steven Gerrard, this is one of the legend’s finest moments in a Liverpool shirt. Into the dying minutes of the last group stage match in the 2004/05 Champions League, the Reds needed another goal or they were out. Step forward captain fantastic to send Anfield into raptures.

 

6: Xabi Alonso / Liverpool 2-1 Arsenal / 28^th November 2004

Told you we’d be back with this game, didn’t I? Quite possibly my favourite team goal Liverpool have ever scored. A long ball from Carragher is cushioned on well by Harry Kewell, before Gerrard plays a tantalising pass with the outside of the boot for Xabi Alonso to provide a crashing finish to open the scoring against the Invincibles. Put it this way: not many goals get a thumbs up from Rafael Benitez. Poetic football.

 

5: Steven Gerrard / Liverpool 3-3 West Ham United / 13^th May 2006

How many players have cup finals named after them? Steven Gerrard is in elite and almost exclusive company here. This is arguably the greatest individual performance of all-time by a Liverpool player, with Gerrard scoring twice and setting up another, as well as scoring in the shootout, to help Liverpool win the 2006 FA Cup. His 90^th minute equaliser, when suffering with cramp, is a delight to behold.

 

4: Hernan Crespo / AC Milan 3-3 Liverpool / 25^th May 2005

Because of the fame and the nature of Liverpool’s comeback in Istanbul, it’s often gets forgotten that AC Milan played some out-of-this-world football in the first half of that match. Hernan Crespo’s second goal, and Milan’s third, is one of the best goals to ever grace a Champions League final. Kaka’s turn is delightful and then the through ball to follow it up is just a stroke of genius. Then we have Crespo’s first-time dinked finish. Goodness me.

 

3: Thierry Henry / Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool / 9^th April 2004

Arguably the greatest ever Premier League player, Arsenal’s Thierry Henry turned on the style here at Highbury, scoring a hat-trick as Arsene Wenger’s team ran out 4-2 winners. This goal, featuring more sidesteps than a Strictly Come Dancing routine, is spectacular. What a player.

 

2: Kemar Roofe / Standard Liege 0-2 Rangers / 22^nd October 2020

Then we come onto Roofe’s. The English striker, formerly of Leeds, made sure of an important three points in the Europa League group stage for Gerrard’s team last week with his long-range effort. What makes this goal so remarkable is not just the distance of the strike, but the technical skill to hold off three defenders and take the ball past them, before trying – and executing – the impossible.

 

1: Luis Suarez / Liverpool 1-1 Newcastle United / 4^th November 2012

And here we have our winner. This could’ve been a countdown full of goals from Luis Suarez, such was the Uruguayan’s penchant for scoring beauties at Liverpool, so it’s fitting that he comes in at number one. His goal against Newcastle is the most difficult and technically genius goal you could ever wish to see. To control such a fast and high ball with one touch of his body, then a second touch to take it around Tim Krul, and a third to tap into the empty net, demonstrates frightening ability. The saddest thing about this goal? It would probably be disallowed by VAR today.