The Gerrard Final

No-one can say that the 2006 F.A. Cup final between Liverpool and West Ham United didn’t make an impression. In press boxes and television gantries, all the talk was of this final being “the best since…” Quite what the ‘since’ meant varied according to the age of the journalist concerned, but the more venerable members even ventured to say it was “the best since 1953” which was immortalised as ‘The Matthews final’ - the day the great Stanley Matthews mesmerised the Bolton Wanderers defence and in so doing fulfilled a lifetime ambition to secure a winner’s medal.

Well, 2006 was beyond doubt ‘The Gerrard final’. Faced with a 2-0 deficit, he started by creating Liverpool’s first goal, neatly finished by Djibril Cisse. He followed that with Liverpool’s equaliser, seizing on a cushioned header to thunder the ball past Hislop. And after Konchesky’s cross had eluded Reina to put West Ham within touching distance of cup glory, Stevie G produced a last gasp 30 yard volley of such power and accuracy that it almost defied description.

Without him, there would have been no extra time – no chance for Pepe Reina to redeem his earlier errors with a save that took the game to penalties and then two crucial penalty stops that gave Liverpool victory.

It was a monumental cup final with all the ingredients that make British football attractive to a worldwide audience. But above all it was, without any disrespect to any other Liverpool player, the Gerrard final and if there is any justice that is how it will be remembered.