Steven Gerrard's 04/05 Champions League Highlights Are Extraordinary, He Was The World's Most Complete Midfielder

An incredible compilation of Steven Gerrard's performances for Liverpool during their 04/05 Champions League campaign has emerged - he was a completely different animal.

Gerrard is regarded as one of his generation's greatest midfielders and single-handedly won games for the Reds.

Liverpool won the Champions League in 2005 and a lot fans remember that campaign for the iconic Istanbul comeback.

Rafa Benitez's side came back to draw 3-3 after being 3-0 down at half-time and won the game on penalties.

What tends to be forgotten, however, is the Gerrard helped drag a below-par Liverpool to the final.

They finished fifth in the Premier League but achieved European glory - with a lot of that thanks to Gerrard.

He missed three group games before scoring a crucial goal against Olympiakos.

Yes, THAT goal. Ya beauty.

Gerrard then played a key role all the way to the final not only in his goals and assists, but his passion on the pitch.

He fought for every ball and genuinely covered every blade of grass.

Fans have reacted to the video and they think it establishes Gerrard as one of the all time greats.

Gerrard has said the header he scored against Milan to make it 3-1 is the most important in his career.

He told the Liverpool Echo in 2015: "I have scored better goals and come up with more eye-catching strikes but without doubt that was the most important of my entire career.

"It gave us back a little bit of respect and some belief too, but I still didn't think it would spark the tremendous fightback that followed.

"I checked my initial run because John Arne Riise's first cross was blocked then I gambled on going into the box again.

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"To get a header in between Jaap Stam and Alessandro Nesta, who were two of the best defenders in the world at the time, was special. The header was instinctive. I went for accuracy rather than power because the cross was that good.

"I waved my hands towards the fans to show that the players were with them and that we hadn't given up either.

"They had descended on Istanbul in their thousands and the least they deserved was for us to keep going. They responded to my gesture by creating even more of a din."

Topics: Liverpool, Football, Champions League, Steven Gerrard

Daniel Marland

Daniel is a journalist for SPORTbible and he has previous experience with Manchester United. He has spoken to some of the biggest names in sport including Rio Ferdinand, Peter Crouch, WWE COO Triple H and WWE legend The Undertaker. May or may not do a decent impression of Jamie Carragher.

@DanMarland_