Reds triumph in Gerrard testimonial
For a man who delivers at the most opportune moments Steven Gerrard left the goalscoring in his testimonial to fellow midfielders Joe Allen and Jordan Henderson as Liverpool beat Olympiacos 2-0.
With a sell-out Anfield gathered to honour their inspirational captain it was a duo who will have a greater part to play in the club's future - rather than the man who has created so much of its history - who made the impact.
While the Greeks did not exactly come bearing gifts they acquiesced in ensuring Gerrard's big day ended on the right note.
There were no Champions League heroics from the England midfielder like the last time Olympiacos visited Anfield on that famous night in December 2004 which ultimately culminated in a fifth European Cup.
Gerrard has a proven record of producing when it matters and although this was a big occasion for the 33-year-old it was still only a friendly.
And while the biggest cheers of the day were rightly reserved for the Liverpool skipper his first-half performance was overshadowed by that of Allen and Iago Aspas.
Even Luis Suarez, who still appears to be angling for a move away after two failed bids by Arsenal, showed enough in a cameo substitute appearance to lift the mood.
Wales international Allen should have had a hat-trick before the interval but managed to convert just one of his chances - all from inside 10 yards.
That was from Aspas' low cross from the left-hand side of the penalty area, sliding in to divert the ball home from five yards midway through the half.
Just a minute earlier he had volleyed over from close range after Daniel Agger had headed Gerrard's corner into his path while his worst miss came much earlier when he volleyed over from eight yards from a flamboyant Aspas backheel.
Source : http://www.football.co.uk/liverpool/reds_triumph_in_gerrard_testimonial_rss4354651.shtml