3 performances that affirm Steven Gerrard's legendary status

Scouse icon Steven Gerrard officially retired from playing professional football Thursday, ending his illustrious 19-year career.

Regarded by some Liverpool fans as the best midfielder the club has ever seen - and one of the brightest sparks in a largely disappointing England era - Gerrard will be remembered for his crunching tackles, out-of-this-world passing ability, and his trademark long-distance goals.

Instead of looking at Istanbul or the first time Gerrard was handed the captain's armband for club and country, though, let's remember three performances that demonstrate the real grit and guts that define the Whiston-born legend.

Olympiacos and the miracle in front of the Kop

On Dec. 8, 2004, Liverpool played Greek goliath Olympiacos in a Champions League group match that would decide its fate in the competition.

The Reds had to beat Olympiacos on the night to advance, but if the Greek side scored, Liverpool knew it would have to win by at least two goals to reach the knockout phase.

Liverpool came flying out of the gate and an early Sami Hyypia attempted header missed the bottom right corner by inches.

Moments later, it was time to push the panic button.

On the 26-minute mark, Brazilian superstar Rivaldo won a free-kick on the edge of the Liverpool penalty box and promptly converted with pinpoint accuracy to make it 1-0 Olympiacos.

Liverpool responded with two quick goals courtesy of Neil Mellor and Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle, setting up a storybook ending that's now a defining moment in Gerrard's career.

In the dying minutes of the match, still in search of a final goal, Mellor headed the ball down to Gerrard, who was 25 yards away from net. Executing a textbook strike, he lashed the ball on the half-volley. It almost ripped the top right corner of the netting and sent Anfield into ecstasy.

Liverpool progressed to the knockout phase, and the last-minute stunner helped pave the way to the Champions League final in Istanbul a few months later.

And we all know what happened next ...

Related: Gerrard's 5 greatest Liverpool games

The magician in Munich

On Sept. 1, 2001, England faced off with rival Germany in a World Cup qualifier that's still considered one of the best performances of the millennium.

England won 5-1 at the Olympiastadion in Munich, and although it was a truly special team performance, Gerrard's second goal was the prick that burst the seemingly impenetrable bubble of Die Mannschaft.

Gerrard was just 21 at the time. Not only did he help England to qualification, he also gave the nation a glimpse of what would soon become the trademark Steven Gerrard finish.

His technique of striking through the ball with little back lift has forced Gerrard into the discussion with the most elite footballers of all time, and it all started on this summer night in Bavaria.

No Good for Goodison

The Merseyside derby is one of the most ferocious battles in the English game and no one knows its importance better than Gerrard.

The ex-England captain is a self-proclaimed Red through and through after joining Liverpool Academy at the age of 9, and he's appeared professionally against Everton 27 times.

The midfielder found the back of the net eight times against the Toffees and was also shown two red cards - and in his career, he only has eight.

On March 13, 2012, Liverpool clashed with Everton in a match that Gerrard must still dream about when he falls asleep in Los Angeles.

Liverpool won the match 3-0 at Anfield and the captain scored all three goals to etch his name in the history books.

It was the first hat trick in a Merseyside derby in 33 years and the biggest win over Everton since the winter of 1982, when the Reds won 5-0 in an old League Division One match.