Steven Gerrad MBE

Congratulations to Stevie on his MBE.

Happy New Year to all of our members, stevengerrard.com will be relaunched in the new year!

Champions League Draw

Liverpool have been drawn against PSV Eindhoven, Bordeaux and Galatasaray in the group stages of the Champions League.

Group C
Liverpool
PSV Eindhoven
Bordeaux
Galatasaray

More to follow

Sheffield United 1 - 1 Liverpool

Sheffield United marked their first top-flight appearance for 12 years by holding Liverpool to a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane in the first match of the Premier League season on Saturday.

Back up having won automatic promotion as runners-up to Reading last season, United stunned the 2005 European champions a minute into the second half when Rob Hulse was left unmarked to head home a free kick.

Liverpool levelled with a 70th minute Robbie Fowler penalty after Steven Gerrard was tripped, by Phil Jagielka, after a one-two with Fowler but did little else to trouble the home side.

If Liverpool were probably worth a point the penalty appeared somewhat fortuitous with Jagielka appearing to make little contact with the Liverpool captain.

England Out Of World Cup 2006

Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo saved three penalties to give his side a 3-1 penalty shootout win over England in the World Cup quarter-final on Saturday after a goalless 120 minutes.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning penalty after Ricardo saved penalties from England midfielders Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard and substitute Jamie Carragher.

Ricardo is the first goalkeeper to save three penalties in a World Cup finals shootout. Portugal now play the winners of the Brazil-France game in the semi-final.

England were forced to play the final half hour of normal time and the whole of extra time with 10 men after striker Wayne Rooney was sent off for stamping.

England 1 - 0 Ecuador

David Beckham became the first England player to score at three World Cups as his free-kick earned a quarter-final tie against Portugal or Holland.

Beckham beautifully curled home from 30 yards on the hour mark, but England made hard work of Ecuador.

The South Americans could have gone in front early on, Carlos Tenorio's shot deflecting off Ashley Cole and on to the bar after John Terry's mistake.
<--break-->
Frank Lampard missed two fine chances but England had done enough to win.

Sven-Goran Eriksson's side will now play either Portugal or Holland - who meet later on Sunday - on Saturday 1 July at 1600 BST in Gelsenkirchen, live on BBC One, Radio Five Live and on the BBC Sport website.

Stevie Welcomes Bellamy Signing

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has welcomed the signing Craig Bellamy and believes he has the 'right mentality' for the club.

Gerrard told the Liverpool Echo: 'We've signed a player with the right mentality for our club. It doesn't do anyone any harm to have a player with what you might call a bit of a nasty streak, in a good way.'

'I've had a few arguments with him on the pitch a few times. But that's something I like about him.

'We all know he's got a bit of character about him, and the one thing everyone can see is he's got a real winning mentality.

'That's something you've got to have to play for Liverpool. The most important thing about him is he is a top class player.'

Sweden 2 - 2 England

England drew 2-2 with Sweden on Tuesday to earn a second round World Cup clash with Ecuador while the Swedes go through to face hosts Germany.

England, who lost striker Michael Owen to a knee injury after just two minutes, took the lead with a stunning 34th minute volley by Joe Cole from over 30 metres.

Sweden levelled with a Marcus Allback header in the 51st minute and were unlucky not to knock England off the top of Group B after creating a string of chances.

Steven Gerrard put England back in front with a header from a Cole cross four minutes from time, but Henrik Larsson brought the scores level again after a long throw deceived the defence.

Hargreaves set to replace Stevie

Owen Hargreaves is expecting to play in his preferred midfield role for England during todays World Cup clash with Sweden in Cologne.

The versatile Bayern Munich midfielder is set to replace Steven Gerrard, who is likely to be rested as he is one yellow card away from suspension, as is Peter Crouch, who is likely to make way for Wayne Rooney.

Gerrard and Crouch would both be ruled out of the second round meeting with Germany or Ecuador if they were booked against the Swedes.

A FIFA bookings amnesty comes into effect after the group matches have been completed.

Hargreaves will be in the starting line-up for the first time since England's last meeting with the Swedes in April 2004 in Gothenburg when the home side won 1-0.

Stevie Backs Under-Fire Owen

Steven Gerrard leapt to the defence of Michael Owen on Saturday and predicted he will deliver World Cup goals.

Owen's place in the starting line-up is under threat for Tuesday's clash with Sweden in Cologne following his lacklustre performances against Paraguay and Trinidad and Tobago with manager Sven-Goran Eriksson substituting him in both matches.

Gerrard, however, insists all the players have faith in the Newcastle forward and admits the service to Owen has not been good enough.

He said: "Michael has come in for a bit of criticism because he hasn't scored but I know goals are only around the corner.

England 2 - 0 Trinidad and Tobago

England had to endure 83 minutes of frustration against Trinidad & Tobago before Peter Crouch and then Steven Gerrard powered them into the World Cup second round with a hard-earned 2-0 Group B win on Thursday.

Captain David Beckham floated a perfect ball from the right to the far post where 6ft 7in (2.04 metre) Crouch headed the first powerfully into the net.

With a minute remaining Gerrard made sure with a left-foot drive from the edge of the box.

The three points followed a scrappy 1-0 win over Paraguay on Saturday and ensures England will finish first or second, depending on their final match with Sweden on Tuesday.