Updated MAR 22, 2015 12:29p ET

Steven Gerrard has apologized for his dramatic red card at Anfield, saying he had let his "team-mates, manager and supporters down".

The Liverpool captain lasted 38 seconds of his side's clash with bitter rivals Manchester United - his last against the Red Devils before he heads to Major League Soccer - as he saw red for a stamp on Ander Herrera.

It meant an immediate return to the dressing rooms for the half-time substitute and he had no excuses afterwards.

Speaking to Sky Sports in the immediate aftermath of a game his side lost 2-1, Gerrard said: "I need to accept it, the decision was right, I have let my team-mates and manager down today, even more importantly I let all the supporters down and I take full responsibility for my action.

"I tried to jump his tackle, I saw his studs and I reacted wrong. I've been in the game long enough to know when you do something like that, especially at the timing of the game, at half-time with 45 to play, a great opportunity to get back in the game, I take full responsibility for it."

Asked what caused his anger to boil over, Gerrard added: "I don't know. Probably, just the reaction to the initial tackle, I don't think I should say too much more on it, I came to speak to apologize to everyone in the dressing room, all the supporters, all the players because I take full responsibility for today's result."

Gerrard's former Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher described the red card as a "moment of madness" borne out of frustration.

He said on Sky Sports One: "There's no doubt that not playing at Swansea (in Liverpool's last game) and then not playing this game would be a frustration.

"He's been at Liverpool 17, 18 years, he's always been the man, the captain, there's never been a case where he's been out of the team and as soon as he's fit he goes straight back in the team.

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Gerrard apologizes after his dramatic red card costs Liverpool

A joint fundraising effort by the Australian Red Cross and the ABC has raised more than $2 million for Vanuatu's Cyclone Pam relief appeal.

Since Friday, all ABC radio, television, and online networks encouraged Australians to donate to the Red Cross or their preferred charity supporting those affected by the category five storm.

Red Cross chief executive officer Robert Tickner said the appeal had raised a total of $4.2 million, with almost half coming since the ABC's appeal.

"Funds raised through this effort means that not only can we help right now, but into the future as people rebuild their lives," he said.

"Funds raised with the ABC's help provide not only immediate relief like tarpaulins and toolkits to help people put a roof over their heads but also long-term support so that they can recover and rebuild, with stronger homes.

"It also means that we can provide safe drinking water to stave off diseases, and psychological support to traumatised families."

The Red Cross was the first organisation to begin relief distributions in some of the worst-affected areas, and conducted rapid assessments across 15 islands.

An estimated 166,000 people were affected by Cyclone Pam, up to 90 per cent of homes were damaged and 65,000 people were left in desperate need for shelter.

ABC managing director Mark Scott said the amount raised was a great achievement considering it was only last Tuesday that the ABC executive decided to plan the appeal.

"I am delighted at how quickly and effectively our programming and production teams came together to deliver our #withVanuatu day on Friday," he said.

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Cyclone Pam: ABC, Red Cross Vanuatu fundraising campaign collects more than $2 million

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard apologised for letting down team-mates, manager Brendan Rodgers and fans with a needless moment of madness which saw him sent off after just 43 seconds in the 2-1 defeat to Manchester United.

The midfielder accepted full responsibility for the defeat after being dismissed for stamping on Ander Herrera less than a minute after coming on for the start of the second half.

Liverpool were already trailing 1-0 thanks to Juan Mata's opener and the Spain international added a second before the Reds, playing better with 10 men, pulled one back through Daniel Sturridge.

Rodgers refused to criticise Gerrard, who departs for Los Angeles Galaxy this summer, and praised him for making a fulsome apology.

"I need to accept it, the decision was right. I have let my team-mates and manager down today, even more importantly I let all the supporters down and I take full responsibility for my action," Gerrard told Sky Sports.

"I tried to jump his tackle, I saw his studs and I reacted wrong. I've been in the game long enough to know when you do something like that, especially at the timing of the game, at half-time with 45 to play, a great opportunity to get back in the game. I take full responsibility for it."

Asked what caused his anger to boil over, the former England international added: "I don't know. Probably just the reaction to the initial tackle. I don't think I should say too much more on it. I came to speak to apologise to everyone in the dressing room, all the supporters, all the players because I take full responsibility for today's result."

Rodgers had kept Gerrard on the bench for his final encounter against United but hoped for a different kind of influence on the game having made the change at the interval.

"It was purely wanting to make an impact. He has made his apologies," said the manager.

"He is a highly competitive player. He made a great challenge when he came on (against Mata), probably our first challenge of the game.

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Gerrard says sorry for red card

LIVERPOOL, England: There was a red card, a cloud of red mist and plenty of crimson faces, but it was ultimately one cool Dutch head that proved the difference in Manchester United's 2-1 win over Liverpool on Sunday.

Not only did Louis van Gaal comfortably win the tactical battle with Liverpool's Brendan Rodgers, but the iron-willed United coach ensured his players kept their heads as Liverpool lost theirs.

The match will be remembered for Steven Gerrard's 38-second cameo that ended abruptly when he was sent off for a stamp on Ander Herrera as well as Juan Mata's match-winning double strike.

Yet the plaudits belong equally with Van Gaal for out-thinking his Liverpool counterpart.

While all the pre-match debate centred on Rodgers' 3-4-3 formation, a perceived cure-all that had healed Liverpool's ills from the first half of the season, it was arch-pragmatist Van Gaal who threw all the tactical punches on the day.

United may have scored two goals fewer than they did in the first half against Tottenham Hotspur last weekend but the opening 45 minutes at Anfield was arguably the visitors' best of the campaign.

For all the gripes Van Gaal has had to face about how far short his United side have fallen from the club's quasi-mythical traditions of expansive football, his team's performance on Sunday was not far short of perfect.

This was not the efficient but ugly early-season United but a performance crafted from possession football, with Liverpool chasing shadows for extensive periods and Mata pouncing on openings to score with two expert finishes.

Mata has had to endure his own fair share of criticism since his move from Chelsea but he proved an unfathomable puzzle for Liverpool's defence throughout the encounter.

The Spaniard gave United the lead after 14 minutes, exposing a chasm of space between centre back Mamadou Sakho and wingback Alberto Moreno to finish sharply.

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Analysis - Van Gaal's tactical wits edge battle of the bosses