I Don't Blame You Stevie

12 March 2006 Arsenal 2-1 Liverpool - EPL

BBC - Henry's exquisite finish had given Arsenal a first-half lead. Luis Garcia levelled for Liverpool after Jens Lehmann could only parry Gerrard's thumping shot. Seconds after Xabi Alonso's dismissal, Gerrard's back pass was intercepted by Henry, who rounded Jose Reina for his second goal.

liverpoolfc.tv - It was a carbon copy of an incident during England's defeat against France in Euro 2004 when Gerrard's backpass to David James was intercepted by Henry before the striker was brought down for a penalty.

Gerrard: "It was just like France all over again. I was trying to take up time. I did not see him. The last player you want the ball to go to is the best player on the planet. It was completely my fault and I hold up my hands. It was a stupid mistake that has stopped us from robbing a point because we did not play well at all."

Rafa: "For me it is clear and Xabi slipped. It was unbelievable and I don't understand these things. That was the turning point of the game because when we equalised I thought we could win. We didn't play that well in the first half, but we controlled the second half. But with 10 men it is more difficult. We made a mistake for the winning goal, but Steven knows that and he has scored 18 goals for us this season. My concern now is to recouperate the players and look for three points against Fulham."

Henry: "You can't blame Steven Gerrard. He is an amazing player. For example I did not know he was their best goalscorer until I looked in our programme. Stuff happens. I saw Ronaldo missed a penalty in the last minute on television over the weekend. If you do it once every two years then OK but how many times has Gerrard made Liverpool win? I know he does not do it on his own but he does score some special goals and make some special deliveries. It is difficult to not point it out because it is the goal that won the game. But he is one of the best players out there. I was just hanging out there on the edge of the box and the ball came to my feet. Thankfully for us, I managed to finish the job."