Stevie G cut his penis playing for Liverpool
No one would accuse Steven Gerrard of lacking dedication.
When you hear about horror tackles in football, you picture ankles snapped to 90º angles, or tibias protruding from a shin.
But a cut penis? Ouch!
It was revealed that Gerrard suffered a cut on his penis when he attempted to block a Bournemouth player from sending in a cross during an FA Cup match in January 2014.
Daily Mail is currently serialising the former Liverpool's captain's latest book — My Story.
One of the more surprising stories is of Gerrard admitting how that sliding tackle led to him needing four stitches on his wedding tackle.
"It was eye-watering. I tried to close down a winger to block his cross but felt a stinging in my privates. I thought, 'S*** — that doesn't feel right!' It was stinging like f***. "
The tackle.
The BBC reported that the dedicated captain — currently with LA Galaxy — soldiered on and finished the game, which Liverpool won 2-0 .
"I hoped I wasn't saying goodbye to an old friend. I got a jab first and was careful not to look at what he was doing. The doc already had to staple Martin Skrtel's head and now he was repairing my penis! "
His first question after he had to repair his crown jewels?
Whether or not he would be able to play in the next match against Everton.
NO BOND WITH RAFA
Less eye-watering — though possibly heart-breaking for Liverpool fans — is that Gerrard also revealed that he is not on speaking terms with former Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez.
The pair might be etched permanently into Liverpool folklore after they won the Champion League in 2005 but apparently they are not on each other's mailing list.
"I can pick up the phone and speak to all of my previous Liverpool managers. Except for Rafa.
"It's a shame because we probably shared the biggest night of both our careers — the 2005 Champions League victory in Istanbul — and yet there is no bond between us."
He said that although their working relationship was frosty, it was professional.
In fact, it made him work doubly hard to earn a compliment from the Spaniard.
The Anfield legend still harbours hope that they pair can one day have a "deeper and friendlier conversation,"
The book is currently on sale on Amazon.
Source: Daily Mail, YouTube, BBC, Amazon
Get The New Paper on your phone with the free TNP app. Download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store now