Gerrard: Anfield blew my young mind
If you have ever wondered just how Steven Gerrard can conjure a moment of inspiration from thin air, then the Liverpool captain has a theory: it is because he considers himself a supporter first.
The Huyton native made his first appearance for the Reds 15 years ago and has worn the skipper's armband for a decade, during which the club have triumphed in the Champions League and FA Cup.
Kopites will honour the midfielder during a testimonial match against Olympiacos on Saturday, which supporters can follow live online with an LFC TV Online subscription.
Fortunately, Gerrard rejected overtures to become a fan of the team on the other side of Stanley Park as a youngster - and the 33-year-old can trace his fledgling Liverpool memories back beyond his own career.
"We had a few Everton fans in the family who were trying to get me down the blue road, but once I started understanding the game and listening to my dad and brother talk about Liverpool's great history, that was it," he told FourFourTwo.
"When I started training with Liverpool, Steve Heighway took a big interest in me and used to treat me to tickets for games. Anfield was mind-blowing.
"I was fascinated by the noise. I'd only ever seen games on TV, so to actually be there and be part of the atmosphere really grabbed me, and that's when the dream started.
"When I'm out there and things are not going well, I'm like a fan. That's why a lot of times I've produced and sometimes I haven't - because I've put too much pressure on myself.
"Istanbul was the best night I've had in a Liverpool shirt, but when you're a local lad, the expectation and demands become so big that when you actually become part of the club's history you're relieved. The fans mean everything to me. They're who I play for."
It may be hard to believe that an international with 630 matches for Liverpool - and 159 goals - could doubt his own ability, but Gerrard admits he had to learn from others in his early years.
"When I first started playing for Liverpool there were times when I didn't feel like I belonged there," the Reds' No.8 continued.
"I was surrounded by multi-millionaires who had 60-70 international caps and 500 career appearances - I felt very intimidated. It was weird to be sitting there, surrounded by those players who were once heroes of mine.
"If I had a bad session or there was a one-on-one incident where someone got the better of me, I questioned whether I was good enough. But with every training session, every game, I was growing and learning from players.
"I studied Paul Ince and Jamie Redknapp on and off the pitch to see how they behaved. I watched how they ate, how they dressed, what cars they drove and how they were when I asked them to sign stuff. Every day I was logging stuff that I still use to this day."
Now a world-famous name, Gerrard's influence extends far beyond what happens on the field of play - his growing Steven Gerrard Foundation, for example, helps to provide brighter futures for disadvantaged children and young people.
The captain explained: "The easy thing to do in this position is to carry on thinking about yourself and go about your life. I wanted to take the challenge on of helping kids in need. It's a good buzz knowing I am helping in some way and I'm enjoying it."
To mark the Liverpool captain's testimonial this weekend, the Steven Gerrard Foundation is auctioning 630 commemorative LFC shirts to raise money for charity. Click here to find out more.