Steven Gerrard and the Istanbul-style Liverpool school miracle that spared his grateful PE teacher's blushes
Steven Gerrard inspired his team to a three-goal second-half comeback that hinted at the Champions League glory night which defines his playing career.It arrived at the end of his first year of high school.The trophy was the Liverpool Cup rather than the Champions League, the team Cardinal Heenan and not his beloved Liverpool, the opponents Blue Coat as opposed to AC Milan.And the venue was the Penny Lane council pitches – a world away from the 76,000-capacity Ataturk Olympic Stadium.The man barking instructions from the touchline was Gerrard’s former PE teacher Steve Monaghan instead of multiple major winner Rafa Benitez.But while the elements of the stories – 13 years apart – are vastly different, they sum up the drive, desire and talent