Steven Gerrard created quite a bit of controversy with his goal from the penalty spot against Celtic legends, in a charity match held at Anfield. The Liverpool legend would go on to celebrate in front of the travelling supporters after slotting the ball into the back of the net, and it would be safe to say that they were not happy with the antics.
Of course, there is plenty of history between Gerrard and Celtic. For several years, he was the manager of the Rangers. While the Englishman might have succeeded in winning only one trophy during his time at Ibrox, it was a big one, stopping the Hoops from securing a historic 10IAR.
It would be safe to say that Celtic fans have not forgotten. And a charity match simply did not feel like the right time or place for Gerrard to bring out the celebrations.
Gerrard slotted home plenty of penalty kicks through the course of his career. But John Barnes appears to believe that the former Liverpool captain had never felt more nervous. As reported by Glasgow Live, he said:
"“Steven Gerrard is probably one of the coolest players ever. I don’t think he will have been as nervous as taking a penalty against Celtic, in front of the Celtic fans. This is probably the most nervous he felt.”"
Unexpected claim made about Gerrard’s goal vs Celtic
Of course, that is certainly up for debate. And only one person will know if that is in fact true or not, and that is none other than Gerrard himself.
His celebration in front of the travelling support, which was strong on the day, might have left a bitter taste in the mouths of a lot of Celtic fans. But it is important to remember the real cause of the match.
That was to raise money for a number of good causes and help people in need. On top of that, it was great to see so many legends of the game pull on the Hoops once again after such a long time.