When you think of the Premier League's greatest midfielders, it's hard not to put Steven Gerrard close to the top of the list. The Liverpool icon was the complete package, capable of tracking back and making last-ditch tackles and also smacking a shot in from range.
One of the things you could rely on him for, though, was his ability from the penalty spot. The England international was the Reds' go-to man from 12 yards out, rarely ever putting a foot wrong.
In total, Gerrard converted 46 of the 55 penalties that he took during his career, including 31 in the English top flight. One man, though, seemingly had his number - fellow Three Lions teammate Rob Green. The former shot-stopper saved both penalties the midfielder took against him and revealed how he knew where the Liverpool man was going.
Green on Gerrard's Penalty Technique
Rob Green
Rob Green
Speaking on Match of the Day, Green was asked to analyse Jordan Pickford's penalty save during Everton's 2-0 victory against Brighton. The Toffees' glovesman has a stellar record himself when it comes to stopping spot kicks and is regarded as one of the best penalty-saving goalkeepers in the world presently.
The crux of the analysis concerned Pickford's water bottle, which had the statistics of each Brighton player from 12 yards out. However, Green said that this was ultimately just a reminder for the goalkeeper, with the real decision being made based on several 'tells' that taker Danny Welbeck would have exhibited.
"He will have watched so many penalties before the game," Green said. "You're looking for various different tells. And it's easier with a shorter run-up, down to the step and the type of movement he makes - even what foot he starts his run-up on.
"You look at Pickford and he's further over to the left-hand side, there are so many giveaways. The final giveaway is the angle of Welbeck's foot. He can't put it in any direction but that side because he's cut off three quarters of the goal."
Asked how he applied this during his own career, Green namechecked Gerrard and said that the Liverpool man was someone he enjoyed facing from 12 yards. The former West Ham goalkeeper proceeded to say that the secret with the England man was to look at which foot he started his run-up with.
"The more information I got, the better I got at saving penalties," he said. "I really enjoyed facing Steven Gerrard - he used to set off with a different direction with his right foot as opposed to his left foot at the start of his run-up.
"You could tell just by his first step which way he'd go off his shorter run-up. I had a really good record against him - whenever Liverpool got a penalty I would go 'just give me that first step' and you find those little triggers."
Gerrard Broke His Own Rule Against Green
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard misses from the penalty spot
Liverpool v Queens Park Rangers - Barclays Premier League - Anfield - 2/5/15 Liverpool's Steven Gerrard misses from the penalty spot Action Images via Reuters / Carl Recine
Although Green seemed to have Gerrard's number from 12 yards, he did manage to score against the goalkeeper in both of the games where he saw his penalty saved. The first was a 3-0 win for Liverpool against West Ham in 2009, with the midfielder bagging a brace. That included him finishing off the rebound from his saved penalty after the goalkeeper had palmed the initial shot back into his path.
Six years later, Green's heroics were for nothing once again. Liverpool and QPR were tied at 1-1 when Gerrard saw his penalty saved by Green in the second half. However, the Merseyside legend headed home a Philippe Coutinho corner in the 87th minute to get the last laugh.
Speaking after the game against the Hoops, Gerrard put his missed effort down to him changing his mind during the run-up. He said: "I changed my mind on my run up, which is something you can't do when you're a penalty taker. I take full responsibility for that, but it was nice to make up for it and help get the team three points."
While many footballers are guilty of doing something similar, changing your mind is a cardinal sin for Gerrard. He revealed the importance of being decisive with penalties during a video for Adidas, where he broke down the secrets to his penalty success.
"You pick your spot, don’t change your mind on the run up, make sure you get really good contact on the ball and try and be as accurate as you can."
That can't have happened too many times, given how successful Gerrard typically was from the penalty spot. And considering he won six of his nine matches against Green, it's safe to say that the Liverpool man usually had the last laugh.