Steven Gerrard | A statistical look at Liverpool’s Legend | Opta Stats

We, at AnfieldIndex, were all aware of the bizarre stat before the start of the Merseyside Derby:

When in the starting eleven, Steven Gerrard hadn’t won a Premier League game for Liverpool since March 6th 2011 (over a year!).

Ironically that last game also featured a hat trick but this time from Dirk Kuyt as Liverpool beat Manchester United at Anfield. An astonishing statistic that Gerrard hadn’t won all season as a starter was definitely playing on our minds. Had he lost his midas touch? Was he past it? Well he answered all of those questions and how. Gerrard managed to do what all of the other players haven’t been doing – being in the right place at the right time and adding numbers in the penalty area (oh and scoring too).

Too often this season Liverpool have not had many players in the penalty area however this time it was Gerrard himself that was available to put two easy goals away and complete his hat trick. His first goal however was as with his left foot he hit a sublime side footed shot, which curled over an on-looking Everton defence, into the top of the goal. His other two goals provided by Luis Suarez, the second of which was very unselfish of the Uruguayan.

Steven’s stats from the Merseyside derby are very impressive too. As you can see, via the table on the left, Steven Gerrard attempted four shots on the night and scored three goals. That’s a chance conversion of 75%. All of his four shots hit the target too (a rarity for any Liverpool player this season) meaning he had a 100% shot accuracy on the night too.

It was an impressive night for Steven especially as it had been so long since there had been a hat trick in the derby. Ian Rush being the last player to get one for Liverpool in the derby. Everton had themselves to blame by playing a much weaker side than the one that played Tottenham and for that they were punished. They had one eye on the Cup but so have Liverpool. Luckily Liverpool have Bellamy, Maxi and Kuyt to come into the side for the weekend if they wish to freshen it up and none of those players will decrease the quality at all if at the cost of Henderson and Downing, in fact we’re looking forward to seeing a side that has Gerrard, Suarez, Carroll & Bellamy starting together.

Next Page: Gerrard compared to Lampard this season…