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.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Rodgers refused to criticise Gerrard, who departs for Los Angeles Galaxy this summer, and praised him for making a fulsome apology. <\/p>\n
\"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. <\/p>\n
\"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.\" <\/p>\n
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.\" <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
\"It was purely wanting to make an impact. He has made his apologies,\" said the manager. <\/p>\n
\"He is a highly competitive player. He made a great challenge when he came on (against Mata), probably our first challenge of the game. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here: <\/p>\n
Gerrard says sorry for red card<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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. Continue reading