Feature'I wish I could do it all again' - six things spotted in 'The Reds Roundtable' with Gerrard, Benitez and Hyypia
Steven Gerrard, Rafael Benitez and Sami Hyypia all featured in the latest episode of 'The Reds Roundtable' last month.
The new instalment saw the former Reds trio sit down alongside presenter Vicky Gomersall to reflect on their time at Anfield, with the focus on a certain Champions League final victory in 2005, plus other topics.
Liverpoolfc.com has picked out six things to note from the show, which was produced alongside main club partner Standard Chartered.
Watch the episode in full below and read on for the key themes…
You have to accept cookies in order to view this content on our site.
Watch on YouTubeGerrard on his Liverpool legacy
Gerrard etched his name into the club's history books during a stellar 17-year career with the Reds, forging a legacy that will be remembered forever.
The iconic midfielder and captain made 710 appearances for Liverpool, scored 186 goals and claimed eight major trophies.
He revealed he would never swap his time and what he achieved, and would happily relive that journey again from boy to man at Anfield.
"I think you appreciate it more," Gerrard said. "The big moments that we shared together affected so many lives, especially here in this city, in this country and beyond.
"We're all focused now on the current Liverpool team and we're on a journey with the current team. But to leave a legacy that we did is obviously a very proud feeling. I don't like watching myself back, but you do appreciate your time as a Liverpool player for sure.
"I wish I could do it all again. I wouldn't want to lose them special moments and I wouldn't want them taken away to start again. But in terms of how lucky I was to live the dream as a Liverpool player, I'd go back to 17 years of age tomorrow."
The LFC team that earned UCL glory
The key to the 2005 Champions League-winning squad wasn't just skill.
The famous second-half comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul has gone down in folklore and this year marks the 20th anniversary of that night at Ataturk Stadium.
Though by their own admission they may not have been the most talented group in the competition that year, hard work, determination and a togetherness proved vital.
"That team had grit," said Gerrard. "A lot of teams have superstars and quality.
"That team had good characters, it was very humble, we knew what we were. We were very detailed tactically. Everyone knew their role in the team. There was an underlying belief and a good spine about us, when I think of [Jamie] Carragher as well alongside Sami, [Xabi] Alonso and Didi Hamann.
"A lot of players that were maybe not superstars but [had] the grit, they don't want to lose. When we got to the latter stages the pressure was off.
"Everyone thought Chelsea were going to beat us. Everyone thought we had no chance against Milan. But we, and a lot of other people around us, just had that little bit of grit and little bit of determination about us."
Gerrard and Hyypia discuss captaincy change
Hyypia had no hard feelings over Gerrard succeeding him as Liverpool captain.
The centre-back held the honour for a year from 2002, before Gerard Houllier opted to hand the armband to the up-and-coming midfielder.
Hyypia looked back on the moment and said Gerrard's game levelled up with the added responsibility, thus impacting positively the overall performance of the team.
"I think I was maybe a bit sad, but not angry at all," Hyypia said. "I knew what it meant to Stevie, that he was born and grew up here. I think for him personally it means a lot more than to me; I knew.
"The first time Stevie came to training I was watching like, 'Who is this kid?' He was so good then already. Then seeing how he grew as a player and everything - I knew the captaincy would take him to another level and it took [him] as a man and as a player."
Gerrard also believed Hyypia deserved more credit for how he handled what could have been a difficult situation.
"I think nine out of 10 footballers would've gone the opposite way Sami went about it," he stated. "I think they would've let their ego take over and dominate that situation and would've probably taken it personally and it would've affected the relationship.
"I think because of the guy Sami is, the professional, the standards that he set and our relationship anyway… Sami made that decision by Gerard a lot smoother and a lot easier than a lot of other footballers. I think he deserves a lot of credit that he didn't get at the time for that."
He added: "Personally it was one of the best days of my life, getting that responsibility. But I also had to be respectful and understand Sami's feelings at the time."
What actually happened at half-time
Gerrard and Benitez lift the lid on an iconic moment in Liverpool history, the half-time interval in Istanbul when the Reds trailed Milan 3-0…
Gerrard
"Most dressing rooms are a little bit chaotic in the first minute or two. Players are talking to each other about what has just gone on. Then obviously Rafa appears after he's spoken to his staff. He got everyone calm and everyone quiet and that's when Rafa had the stage for himself.
"That was the main part of the half-time. It's the moment Rafa comes through the door to the minute he stops speaking, because that's what we're going to do in the second half after what went wrong in the first half.
"Without that instruction and guidance and calmness… that's where I see Rafa's best performance as a manager in those three or four minutes. Without that guidance and instruction, we don't go out and change the way we play.
"He didn't have to shout or throw or point. I could tell by his demeanour. Yes, he was calm, because it's the most important team-talk you're going to give, but we could see behind the mask, if you like, that Rafa is seething and not happy."
Benitez
"I was taking notes 2-0 down about what I have to say in English and then we concede the third goal. I have my notes, they are there, so the first thing was about staying calm. We had worked so hard to be there. [We had] nothing to lose [and] 45 minutes to change things… I have the note that if we score one goal we will be back into the game.
"It's easy to say - apart from the jokes about sending Djimi Traore to the showers and all these things! But it was a tactical approach. The main thing was a plan. If they know you have a plan they will follow, because we did it so many times. Even if you are wrong, they will believe in you."
Stevie the best Rafa ever coached
Benitez is a manager who has travelled the world and coached teams and players at the very top level in a range of countries.
At Liverpool, though, was where he found the best player he would ever work with.
"They were asking me so many times which is the best player that you already coached," Benitez said. "I have [Cristiano] Ronaldo, [Samuel] Eto'o, [Eden] Hazard… but always I say Stevie.
"Why? Because he has the potential. When I explain… he was good in the air, [he had] power, pace and technically he was good. But he was the best player I have coached because he has everything and also leadership and the feeling.
"He was a leader on the pitch, but he was very positive and demanding with teammates. He was upset sometimes with me… but it's these kind of things together, on the pitch, outside the pitch and relationship with teammates. It's very difficult. I'm naming now top-class players - but he was more complete."
On the transition from Klopp to Slot
To close out the discussion, Hyypia, Gerrard and Benitez all reflected on the job Arne Slot has done in transitioning the current Liverpool team.
Slot guided the Reds to Premier League glory and title No.20 in his debut season in the dugout having followed on from Jürgen Klopp.
Here are their thoughts…
Benitez
"To replace Jürgen Klopp was not easy. Yes, he had a good team, but you still have to perform in another league and country so it's quite difficult. I think he's doing a great job, as a person you analyse and as a professional. You also analyse the tactical decisions and he's making a lot of good decisions. I can see the potential because he is someone who can react and adapt and change. Even having an idea - you have to have a way to play but if you need to adapt something you have to do it because you have to win."
Hyypia
"I was actually last July with the first team in America on the tour and I got to talk to him a few times and I knew already that we are in good hands, but I think the start he had maybe he has surprised me with how well it has gone. I'm happy it's going this way."
Gerrard
"That's the biggest part of the credit I like to give him, is that it has been seamless. I think everyone was concerned and worried what was going to happen to this group of players after Jürgen left. I think you have to give immense credit to the people above in terms of the decision-makers. Tactically he looks at a very high level. The way he speaks to the media and handles himself has been perfect.
"Liverpool Football Club is a difficult club to play for so I can only imagine what it is like to manage and lead. I've got nothing but respect and praise, especially when I've been on this side of the fence as well. It's a tough job. I think it's incredible for everyone because the league is the bread and butter."