Departing skipper shows Liverpool just what they’ll be missing with brace to end Wimbledon’s FA Cup hopes
Steven Gerrard's long goodbye started in style with Liverpool's captain starring in his first game since announcing he would be leaving the club at the end of this season, scoring twice to steer his side into the fourth round of the FA Cup where they play Bolton Wanderers. For thoseLiverpool fans looking for portents, FA Cup final day is Gerrard's 35th birthday.
Gerrard opened the scoring with a diving header but Neal Ardley's vibrant League Two side responded well, and were given real hope when Adebayo Akinfenwa equalised but Gerrard rescued his team once again with a second-half free-kick, intensifying the debate over whether he is leaving too soon.
Having started on the bench at the Bernabeu, Gerrard clearly knew that he was not a central part of Brendan Rodgers' plans, leading to his announcement that he was leaving in the summer for MLS.
Yet Liverpool's manager built a platform for Gerrard at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, aka Kingsmeadow. For 15-20 minutes in the first half, Gerrard was the focus of attention, a heavyweight of the game, before Akinfenwa, the AFC Wimbledon striker almost touching 108kg, weighed in. How fitting. Akinfenwa, a passionate Liverpool fan, was looking forward to meeting Gerrard, to thank him for everything he had done for the club.
It had to be all about Gerrard. Again Rodgers preferred a 3-4-3 system, but this time with Gerrard further advanced, liberated by Lucas and Jordan Henderson, who were doing the defensive duties in central midfield. As Gerrard celebrated his 181st goal in 696 appearances for Liverpool, the home fans and players plotted their response.
And then came that moment that Akinfenwa had dreamed of. Ardley had been doing plenty of work on the training ground on exploiting Liverpool frailties at defending set-pieces. George Francomb curled in the corner, looking to trouble Mignolet. The ball hit Mamadou Sakho and bounced back off the bar. Mignolet failed to take responsibility. Akinfenwa was quickest, pouncing, scoring from close range.
The home fans went wild. Haydon The Womble punched the air. This was the stuff of dreams. AFC Wimbledon are in League Two, holding representatives of a club who have won the European Cup five times. Was the extended FA Cup third-round weekend finally conjuring up some magic?
Liverpool improved after the break but there were still a couple of scares as the second half opened. After 62, Gerrard registered his 182nd goal for the club with a classy free-kick. As Gerrard calmly celebrated, Liverpool fans sang his name.
Gerrard continued to be involved, continued to show his enduring class. Mignolet is oft-criticised, deservedly so at times, but he rescued Liverpool towards the end, saving from Adebayo Azeez, and then catching a steepling ball under pressure. Mignolet then launched a counter-attack, culminating in Gerrard presented with a chance of his hat-trick but Callum Kennedy cleared off the line. The headlines already belonged to Gerrard.
