Liverpool FC Player Bios [Midfielders]

Steven Gerrard

Date of Birth : 30 May 1980

Squad Number : 8

Arguably the best all-around player the Liverpool fans will ever see. From hard-tackling abilities to long-range screamers, Gerrard has it all. Not to mention that he’s also a calm finisher in front of goal. The Liverpool captain has skippered his side to two FA Cup wins, three League Cup (also known as the Carling Cup) victories and one memorable glory over AC Milan at the prestigious UEFA Champions League final.

29 November 1998 will always be a very special day for both the player and the club when the young Steven Gerrard made his first-team debut, featuring as a late substitute after coming in for Vegard Higgem. In October 2003, Stevie G was named as the new Liverpool captain by manager Gerard Houllier, hence replacing former team captain Sami Hyypia.

Gerrard suffered a major career setback ever since injuring his groin at the beginning of the 2008–09 season. He was sidelined for most of his club’s games during the 2010-2011 season and was also forced to miss the start of the following season. Back in 10 March 2009, Gerrard netted two of Liverpool four goals in his side’s fantastic 4-0 win over Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, he then inspired Liverpool to a famous 4-1 over archrivals Manchester United in the Barclays Premier League with a goal from the penalty spot and a solid performance throughout the match. French great Zinedine Zidane praised Gerrard for his string of eye-catching displays.

Is he the best in the world? He might not get the attention of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but yes, I think he might be.

Zinedine Zidane

Lucas Leiva

Date of Birth : 9 January 1987

Squad Number : 21

Lucas was brought into Anfield by former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez on 26 July 2007. The Brazilian scored his first goal for the club on 27 January 2008 when he curled a remarkable 25-yard shot into the top corner during an FA Cup fixture against Havant and Waterlooville. The goal made him the first Brazilian player to ever score in Liverpool colours. He then scored his first Barclays Premier League goal over a year later (3 May 2009) in Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Newcastle United.

During the absence of injury-prone captain Steven Gerrard and departure of both Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano, Lucas has pretty much cemented his place in the Liverpool starting 11. He was one of the side’s most consistent performer in 2010-2011 season.

He is much more mature, stronger physically and knows more about how to win games. He has shown great personality and capability to change things around.

Fabio Aurelio

Maxi Rodriguez

Date of Birth : January 2, 1981

Squad Number : 11

After making a name for himself during earlier his days at Spanish side Atletico Madrid, he was released on a free transfer in 2010 and was immediately snapped up by Liverpool on 13 January 2010. He scored his first goal for the side on 25 April 2010 when he helped his teammates emerge 4-0 winners over Burnley.

The Argentine found his spark again when he had two hat-tricks during the 2010-2011 campaign. The first one came during Liverpool’s emphatic 5-0 win over Birmingham City while the other was when the Reds swept aside Fulham at Craven Cottage with a brilliant 5-2 scoreline. In the 2011-12 season, Maxi was impressive when he helped Liverpool beat Chelsea twice in only nine days, once in the Barclays Premier League and the other in the Carling Cup quarter final, both at Stamford Bridge and scoring in two of the occasions.

Jordan Henderson

Date of Birth : 17 June 1990

Squad Number : 14

In the 2009–10 season, Henderson broke into the Sunderland first team and made a few Barclays Premier League appearances before going on the win the Young Player of the Year award. In 2011, he was regarded as one of the world’s most talented youngsters alongside the likes of David De Gea and Romelu Lukaku. He eye-catching displays had caught the attention of several big clubs across England.

On 9 June 2011, Liverpool defeated rivals Manchester United and Arsenal in their quest to get Henderson’s signature. He joined the Reds for a total of £20 million. Later on, the club confirmed that he will be wearing the number-14 jersey, previously worn by one of Liverpool’s best long range passers of all time, Xabi Alonso. On 26 February, Henderson helped Liverpool to their first trophy in six years by featuring in the side’s 4-3 win in penalties over Cardiff City in the Carling Cup final.

Jonjo Shelvey

Date of Birth : 27 February 1992

Squad Number : 33

Shelvey became Charlton Athletic’s youngest ever player to make a senior appearance when he featured at the age of just 16 years and 59 days. He was quickly scouted by Liverpool before arriving at Anfield in May 2010 for an initial fee of £1.7 million. He made his first-team debut in Liverpool’s disappointing 4-2 defeat on penalties in the Carling Cup third round against Northampton Town on 22 September, despite him scoring on his turn. He then made his Barclays Premier League debut on 24 October 2010, coming on as a 87th minute substitute in the Reds’ 2-1 win.

Shelvey was sent out on loan to Blackpool on 30 September 2011, starring on debut in the League One in his side’s 5-0 victory over Blackpool. He went on to score a hat-trick (first hat-trick in his career) in another 5-0 win, this time against Leeds United. He was recalled to Liverpool on 30 November 2011 after Lucas Leiva suffered an Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) that would rule him out for the entire season.

Stewart Downing

Date of Birth : 22 July 1984

Squad Number : 11

Before joining Liverpool from Aston Villa on 15 July 2011, Downing has featured in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and Euro Qualifiers for England. He played full 90 minutes in Liverpool’s 2-0 over Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League on 13 August 2011. The English international was relentlessly boo-ed by his former supporters when Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0 on 18 December 2011 courtesy of goals from Martin Skrtel and Craig Bellamy.

He silenced his critics regarding his poor run of form when he finally ended his Liverpool goal-drought on 6 January 2012, scoring against Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup. He played a major role in Liverpool’s Carling Cup victory, scoring his penalty in the shootouts before being named as the Man of the Match for his excellent display.

Jay Spearing

Date of Birth : 25 November 1988

Squad Number : 20

Spearing made his first team debut for the club on 9 December 2008 as a substitute in his side’s 3-1 win over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League after spending much of his career playing for the reserves. He then featured in Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Real Madrid, also in the UEFA Champions League. He finally made his first start for the team on 22 September 2009, playing the full 90 minutes in Liverpool’s Carling Cup third round fixture against Leeds United.

He was loaned to Championship side Leicester City in March 2010 for tastes of first team action. He made a total of nine appearances, scoring once in his side’s 4-1 win over Watford before returning to Anfield. On 8 July 2011, it was announced that Spearing would officially wear the number-20 jersey after giving his previous number (26) to Scottish teammate Charlie Adam.

Spearing received his first red-card in his footballing career after a controversial decision from the referee in his side’s 1-0 defeat to Fulham in the Barclays Premier League.

Charlie Adam

Date of Birth : 10 December 1985

Squad Number : 26

Liverpool completed the signing of Charlie Adam for a fee of £5 million in July 2011 after failing to land him in January. He made an assist on his debut for Liverpool on the opening day fixture of the 2011-12 Barclays Premiear League campaign against Sunderland on 13 August 2011, providing the opening goal for Uruguayan teammate Luis Suarez for the opening goal.

The Scottish international then scored his first goal for the side in Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Bolton Wanderers on 27 August 2011. Adam has since became a regular starter for the side before going on to help his side win the 2012 Carling Cup.