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Departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has spoken of his new banner at Anfield, but does he realise it borrows WWF legend Bret Hart's famous catchphrase "The best there is, the best there was, and the best there ever will be."
Gerrard posted a picture of the banner on Instagram after the Reds 1-1 draw with Chelsea in the Capital One Cup semi-final, with the caption: "Proud of my new flag on the kop. Thanks to the lads who are behind it . .great support again tonight . All to play for next week. #spionkop #ynwa"
Gerrard's new banner at Anfield (GETTY IMAGES) Hart was a five-time WWF heavyweight champion, and four-time WCW champion after defecting to the rival brand in controversial circumstances in 1997. He was known as the "Excellence of Execution" due to his wrestling pedigree. It was more of a case of "The Excellence of Executing Penalties" for Gerrard.
Show all 22 1 /22Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Simon Mignolet Could do little with Hazard’s spot-kick but quick off line to halt Costa in opening seconds of second period. Less busy of the Belgian keepers. 6/10
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Emre Can Played again in unorthodox position and gave Hazard opportunity to tumble and earn penalty. Stuck to task well thereafter and got forward. 6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Martin Skrtel Led and cajoled his centre-back partners through a testing night and made a crucial challenge on Costa in the closing minutes to preserve draw for hosts.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Mamadou Sakho Relished muscular battle with Costa and rightly allowed to play on after Spanish-Brazilian went down easily outside area. Growing into the team.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Lazar Markovic Collapsed to ground in heap to earn Luis booking. Could not be faulted for lack of effort or application – but had little overall impact on proceedings.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Jordan Henderson Drove forward when chances arose and presented Chelsea with problems with his passing. Made Courtois work with strong shot from 20 yards.7
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Lucas Remained back to allow Gerrard and Henderson to press on. Almost played Sterling through before the interval. Carded for bringing down Hazard.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Alberto Moreno Stationed further forward and never stopped running all night. Saw cross blocked by Willian. Fouled by Mikel but offered Reds help at both ends.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Steven Gerrard Tested Courtois with swerving effort and struck post after break before being replaced in forceful showing. Booked for chopping down Hazard.7
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Philippe Coutinho Fine ball through to Sterling was intercepted by Cahill and was main attacking threat behind Sterling as Reds sought to earn first-leg advantage.7
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Raheem Sterling So that’s what a break in Jamaica can do... Darted around but struggled to make an impact before driving through heart of Chelsea’s back line to level.8
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Thibaut Courtois Returned to side for first time since defeat at Spurs. Fine tip over from Gerrard and also Coutinho and Lallana. Strong handling and left exposed for Sterling goal.8
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Branislav Ivanovic Has rivalled Fabregas for assists in recent games and got forward well but was found lacking in defence. Often left others to make up ground for him.5
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Gary Cahill Struggled for form in recent weeks but made vital interception to stop Coutinho’s through ball. Failed to halt Sterling for equaliser.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings John Terry Kept a lot busier than Saturday’s cakewalk of a match at Swansea. Troubled by trickery of a rested Sterling but kept focus as hosts turned up heat.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Filipe Luis Harshly censured after Markovic made most of his flailing arm. Shot over from outside area and was another to struggle with Reds’ intensity after half-time.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings John Obi Mikel Nigerian brought back into team to allow Fabregas to move forward but does not offer same presence as the Spaniard. Lacking in composure. 6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Nemanja Matic Kept ball flowing as Chelsea relied on counter-attack for their chances. Lost Sterling for the goal but his physicality added to an out-of-sorts defence.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Willian Pacy Brazilian was left to bail out Ivanovic on more than one occasion and his work rate put a few of his colleagues to shame. Taken off near the end.7
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Cesc Fabregas Deployed further forward in the hole behind Costa and linked up to great effect with Hazard in opening exchanges. As with rest of team, wilted after interval.6
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Eden Hazard Intelligent in possession but often a marked man. Enjoyed more spot-kick success than countryman Mirallas had in same city the previous night.7
Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1 player ratings Diego Costa Not his best night. Fortunate to escape handball on stroke of half-time. Went close immediately after break but denied by rapidity of Mignolet.6
Bret "The Hitman" Hart (GETTY IMAGES) The 34-year-old Gerrard leaves the Reds in the summer to join Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS, ending a 26-year association with his boyhood club.
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