Anthony Gordon has revealed that a Liverpool icon was his footballing hero growing up, despite the former Everton winger once insisting he “lived and breathed” the Toffees.
The 23-year-old began his football journey at Liverpool’s youth academy before signing for Everton at the age of 11.
He rose through the ranks at Finch Farm and graduated to the first team before completing a £40million move to Newcastle in 2023, a deal that soured relations between him and some Everton fans. Gordon had refused to train with the club before telling the Merseyside side that he would not be returning due to interest from Newcastle.
Despite this, the Liverpool-born winger has gone from strength to strength following his signing, recently earning his first senior England cap for Gareth Southgate’s side, as well as scoring 11 goals in 43 appearances for the Magpies this season. .
But Gordon, speaking on The Overlap, presented by sky betNow he has revealed who his football hero is and, interestingly, told Gary Neville that he admired a former Liverpool star when he was younger.
Anthony Gordon revealed to Gary Neville that his football hero was a former Liverpool legend
Gordon spent 11 years with Everton, initially coming through Liverpool’s youth academy in 2012.
“Steven Gerrard was my football hero growing up,” he told The Overlap. “Coming from Liverpool, he was like a god in Liverpool and he was an unbelievable player.”
The former Liverpool captain is widely regarded as one of the club’s and Premier League’s greatest midfielders of all time, with Gerrard scoring 186 goals in 710 appearances for the Reds, and also leading them to Champions League glory. in 2005.
Gordon, who has 10 Premier League goals this season for Newcastle, now has his eye on securing a place in Southgate’s England squad at this summer’s Euros.
He revealed to Mail Sport in March that he has not yet booked a summer holiday because he wants to play for England in Germany. Having featured in England’s recent friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, Gordon has an excellent chance of making the team, especially considering his excellent form.
And speaking of what motivates him, the 23-year-old revealed that he has been inspired by the mentality of another Liverpool star, Mohamed Salah, and praised the Liverpool striker as “an absolute machine”.
‘My confidence comes from my preparation. I don’t know where it comes from, I wouldn’t say anyone around me is anything like that. I love learning things, and throughout my years growing up, I have loved learning about psychology.
‘There may be people who do the same as me, there may be many who simply haven’t talked about it.
Gordon, originally from Merseyside, revealed that Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard was his hero growing up.
Gordon scored seven goals in 78 appearances for the Toffees during his time at Goodison.
He angered some Everton fans when he refused to train amid his move to Newcastle.
‘Some footballers like to think less, just show up, play and trust their instincts. I love the mentality of getting to that place before you’re there.
‘I saw Mo Salah talk about it and that’s where I got even more interested, because I see him as an absolute machine and a winner. With people like that, you won’t go too far wrong following what they do.
Gordon, meanwhile, helped Everton avoid relegation under Frank Lampard in 2022, featuring in their epic 3-2 win against Crystal Palace that ultimately helped the Toffees avoid relegation, and then returning seven goals in 78 senior appearances for the club before leaving.
Upon leaving the club, Everton issued a three-line statement announcing Gordon’s departure, something Gordon later admitted “hurt him”.
Since then, the winger has excelled in Eddie Howe’s side, scoring 12 goals in 59 appearances.
He also revealed that Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah’s mentality had inspired him too.
Gordon is now eyeing a place in Gareth Southgate’s Euro squad after making his England debut.
“My whole life has been at Everton,” he said. sky sports. ‘I grew up in Everton, it was a huge place in my heart and life, which I will never forget. And from afar I will always be supporting them, always wishing them the best.
‘Once things like that happen [fans turning on squad], it’s hard to recover from, especially because I’m from there. I grew up on those streets.’
Regarding Everton’s statement he added: “It hurt me a little bit, I’m not going to lie.” I thought that as a club with thousands of people working for them and the effort I put into them last year, I was a huge part of keeping the club up, I won the players’ player of the year and the coach’s award…
“So for them to not even show me any credit or thank me for anything, it hurt me a little bit.”
Anthony Gordon was speaking at The Overlap, presented by sky bet.