Latest news with #StevenGerrard
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Steven Gerrard's pregnant daughter Lilly-Ella, 21, shows off her baby bump as she prepares to welcome her first child with son of jailed Irish gangster
Steven Gerrard 's daughter Lilly-Ella showed off her burgeoning baby bump on Instagram as she prepares to welcome the footballing legend's first grandchild. In the snap, the influencer, 21, placed a hand lovingly on her stomach, keeping things comfortable in a black co-ord gym set. Lily-Ella struck a casual pose in the snaps shared on Sunday, keeping her face hidden by her phone so that all eyes would be on her impending arrival. In the second snap, she revealed that she is very much an animal lover, posing with three poodles. Alongside a heart and stars emoji, Lilly-Ella captioned the pictures: 'Me and bump.' While Lilly-Ella's exact due date is not known, she is expected to give birth any week now and said she was 'almost there' last month. The influencer announced she was expecting her first child in January. Lilly has been in a relationship with Lee Byrne - the son of a jailed Irish gangster - since October 2022, and their romance made headlines when it first came to light. The expectant parents have not revealed the baby's gender, leading fans to believe they are keeping the sex a surprise until the birth. Her father - former Liverpool and England legend Steven - will be just 45 when his first grandchild enters the world. The former midfielder has four children with wife Alex - daughters Lilly, Lexie, 19, Lourdes, 14, and a son named Lio, eight. Lilly announced her pregnancy news in January, dharing a photo of her positive pregnancy test and telling her 222,000 Instagram followers: 'Our little secret. The best news... mini us is on the way.' Responding to his daughter's post, Gerrard wrote: 'We can't wait. Congratulations and we love you.' Lilly's partner - with whom she was first linked in 2022 - is the son of Kinahan Cartel gangster Liam Byrne, who was issued a five and a half year prison sentence for a plot to stockpile a stash of machine guns. Ipswich Crown Court heard how Byrne and colleague Shaun Kent planted a haul of automatic weapons in a bid to help Kavanagh dupe the authorities. Kavanagh, Byrne's brother-in-law, was hoping to lead the National Crime Agency, Britain's FBI, to the guns in a bid to reduce his sentence in a drug conspiracy case. The staggering haul, imported from Holland, included the Skorpion, the type of automatic weapon used to murder Ashley Dale and Ellie Edwards on Merseyside. In January, it was reported that cartel mob boss Byrne, 44, who has connections to three of the most wanted men in the world, was let out with an electronic tag as part of the Prime Minister's controversial Early Release Scheme to ease overcrowding in prisons, sources said. Lee and Lilly became an item after Lee moved into a gated community in Freshfield, one of Merseyside's more desirable postcodes. The Byrne and Gerrard families are said to have bonded since the young couple began dating, with Lee describing Alex Gerrard, Steven's stunning wife, as his second mum. There is no suggestion that Lee or any member of the Gerrard family are involved in crime.
The Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Is Luke Littler and Luke Humphries' friendship all a facade? Inside England stars' World Cup of Darts disaster
NOT SINCE the pairing of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard at the 2006 World Cup had two Englishmen fail to click and proven so uncoordinated on German soil. Luke Humphries and Luke Littler arrived in Frankfurt as the top two players in the world and red-hot favourites for the PDC World Cup of Darts. 8 8 8 Expectations were so high that they would be victorious that Phil Taylor was saying they should be given the trophy before a dart was even thrown in anger. But World Cups can cause all manner of surprises and discombobulating displays – as England's Golden Generation found to their cost 19 years ago. Gerrard and Lampard were among the best midfielders of their era, goal-scoring machines for Liverpool and Chelsea. Yet despite their god-given talents, it never really worked for them in tandem when they donned a Three Lions shirt. Humphries and Littler are the best darts players of this era but they were crushed in their opening game by the Germans. So, why didn't it work? Why did it go so spectacularly wrong? Well, underdogs Martin 'The Wall' Schindler and Ricardo 'Pikachu' Pietreczko rose to the challenge superbly, winning their second-round tie 8-4 on Saturday evening. There is history between the two Lukes and pesky Pietreczko – Littler clashed with him at last year's Belgian Darts Open, and Humphries gave it back to German fans at Ally Pally after he eliminated the Berlin-born star. 8 The hostility that greeted the English duo when they walked out was unusual for darts – so, do not underestimate the impact that had on the No.1 seeds. The noise was ear-splitting and we all know Littler has little time for Deutschland fans. Luke Littler and Luke Humphries BOOED by German crowd on day they got their MBEs but fans love their 's---house' walk-on Twice before, in Berlin and Munich, Littler had been left unhappy with the reception he got from punters. The previous time it had happened over Easter, he wrote on Instagram he was glad he would not be back in the country until Dortmund in October, seemingly forgetting all about the World Cup in June. He might be the world champion and a global icon but we forget that Littler is still only 18. The Nuke stormed off stage, albeit after shaking hands, and just like when he lost the Premier League Final to Cool Hand Luke, he shows his emotions whenever things go against him. 8 8 But as NFL legendary coach Vince Lombardi once said: Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser. Parallels could be made with another England midfielder, Jude Bellingham, who is a stellar talent but is prone to outbursts and temper tantrums in difficult moments. Littler is not yet in that same league but this is a huge setback in his career – his first senior England appearance ending amid a cacophony of boos and regrets. It was so deflating that, the day after they had been recognised in the King's Honours List, Sky Sports pundit Wayne Marde joked: 'How quickly can MBEs be taken away?' What was telling was the observation made by Gerwyn Price, whose Wales side lost 10-9 to Northern Ireland in the final. In one of the revealing interviews this year, the Iceman claimed 'rubbish' England lacked 'a connection' and had no 'camaraderie off the stage'. He said: 'When all the teams first turned up on the first day, the only two players who didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team. 'You need to turn up together. You need to be as a team. You practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. 'It didn't show with England and it showed on the board. They are great players individually. But you need to be a team.' 8 World No.1 Humphries and reigning world champion Littler are always so polite and respectful on stage, fist-bumping each other's high checkouts. But is it all a facade? Are they really as compatible off the oche as they make out? Can they ever put aside their fierce rivalry for this team format? Humphries is 12 years older than Littler and is like a big brother but if Price is right, they will have to work on their connection in a team situation. They came over to Germany as the bookies' front-runners but were gone after 12 legs. At least Gerrard and Lampard managed four games together at the 2006 World Cup before their quarter-final exit. 8
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Liverpool star's decision that terrified his boss before he made dramatic U-turn
In the summer of 2005, Steven Gerrard handed in a transfer request at Liverpool amid strong interest from Chelsea, leaving then Reds boss Rafael Benitez fearing the worst Rafael Benitez once feared he'd be remembered as the Liverpool boss who let Steven Gerrard slip through the club's fingers. In the summer of 2005, mere weeks after guiding the Reds to a miraculous Champions League victory in Istanbul, the unthinkable happened: Gerrard submitted a transfer request amidst strong interest from Chelsea. Benitez, who had succeeded Gerard Houllier a year earlier, had swiftly endeared himself to the Anfield crowd through that unforgettable European campaign. But as the euphoria of their triumph faded, turmoil and tension took its place. Tempted by Chelsea's financial muscle and growing dominance under Jose Mourinho, Gerrard turned down several contract extensions from Liverpool, and a switch to Stamford Bridge looked all but certain. Then, in a stunning reversal, Gerrard changed his mind, bringing widespread relief across Merseyside - and, no doubt, in the Benitez household too. "There was a point where Rafa Benitez thought he was [going to be known as] the manager who had sold Steven to Chelsea," former Liverpool striker Emile Heskey told Prime Casino. "But it didn't go through in the end." Just as fans had mixed reactions to reports linking Trent Alexander-Arnold with Real Madrid earlier this year, Gerrard became something of a pariah in certain Anfield circles. Chelsea's interest was widely known, and with Liverpool struggling to challenge for top domestic honours, Gerrard, understandably, began weighing his options. In the end, Chelsea's efforts came to nothing. Gerrard reversed his transfer request and penned a new, high-value deal, pledging the peak of his playing years to the Reds. At the time, he famously declared: "If I win a couple of trophies at Liverpool, it would mean an awful lot more to me than to win 10 at Chelsea." In the end, Gerrard got his wish - at least in part. He added two more pieces of silverware to his cabinet with Liverpool: the 2006 FA Cup and the 2012 League Cup. However, the Premier League title - the one honour he craved most - remained agonisingly elusive. Meanwhile, Chelsea continued reaping the rewards Gerrard knowingly sacrificed. Over the next several years, the London outfit accumulated an impressive haul - multiple league titles, domestic honours, and the coveted Champions League trophy in 2012. Though Gerrard ultimately followed his heart, the price he paid was steep. Heskey, however, firmly believes his former team-mate made the correct call in staying. "He's a local lad, and he's become a legend. It's difficult when you're leaving your local team, especially when it's Liverpool or you're leaving a Manchester club, and you're such a big legend within the city," said Heskey, who spent four-and-a-half seasons at Anfield. "Going to, say, Chelsea or Arsenal or someone like that is going to be tough when you come back with a London team. If you're going abroad, it's not as bad, even if Trent was getting grief recently. "But as we saw with Michael [Owen], as we saw with [Steve] McManaman, and players like that, it's not as bad. But when you go to Chelsea, like Steven almost did, that's tough. I believe it was right for him to stay even though he probably would have won league titles if he left." Despite his dedication, the Premier League crown continued to evade Gerrard's grasp, though not without a couple of agonising near-misses. Under Benitez in 2008/09, they pushed Manchester United all the way, ultimately finishing just four points adrift. Then came the 2013/14 season - perhaps the most gut-wrenching of all. With Brendan Rodgers at the helm, Liverpool mounted a thrilling and unexpected title charge, powered by Gerrard's veteran leadership and the attacking brilliance of Luis Suarez, Raheem Sterling, and Philippe Coutinho. But with only three fixtures remaining, a fateful slip against Chelsea of all teams - an infamous moment now etched into football folklore - allowed Manchester City to leapfrog Liverpool and pip them to the post. As such, Gerrard's dream of capturing the Premier League with his boyhood club, thus justifying his Chelsea rejection years before, slipped away again, for what would be the final time.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Steven Gerrard's pregnant daughter sends 'love you so much' message to dad
Steven Gerrard's children have sent heartfelt messages to their dad to mark Father's Day. The Liverpool FC legend shares four children with his wife, Alex Gerrard. The couple are proud parents of Lilly Gerrard, Lexie, Lourdes and youngest, son Lio. Gerrard announced his family was complete after he announced Lio's birth in 2017. He said: "Lio George Gerrard was born this morning at 4.55am. Both are doing great. Our family is complete." Lilly is the oldest of Gerrard's children, she celebrated her 21st birthday earlier this year. In a post uploaded to Instagram stories today, she shared six pictures of her and the former footballer. One picture showed the two together when younger and a recent picture, others were family photos. READ MORE: Soccer Aid's Tony Bellew says 'stay away from my family' in warning to Strictly star READ MORE: Trent Alexander-Arnold's girlfriend issues two-word message to footballer The caption read: "Happy Father's Day to my dad, love you so much. @StevenGerrard." Lilly announced her pregnancy with partner Lee Byrne in January. Since announcing her pregnancy, the daughter of former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has shared updates throughout the pregnancy journey. When she first shared the news, she wrote on Instagram: "Our little secret. The best news, mini us is on the way." Lilly and her partner Lee Byrne have been dating for over two years, the two confirmed their relationship in 2022 with a series of pictures from time together in Ibiza, Spain. Last month, the 21-year-old told followers she was "almost there" as she posted two pictures of herself to her Instagram story, both showing off her baby bump. Since January, Lilly, who grew up in Formby, has received an abundance of love and support. Gerrard was one of the first to comment on his daughter's post when she shared the baby news. He commented: "We can't wait. Great news and congratulations we love you." Gerrard regularly shares family updates on social media and has always been vocal about the love he has for his children. Mum Alex, 42, took to the comments and said: "Can't wait." Gerrard's second eldest daughter, Lexie, 18, said: "Can't wait to be a auntie." Steven and Alex have been happily married since 2007 after they tied the knot in a luxurious ceremony at Cliveden House in Berkshire. Lexie Gerrard also shared a message for her dad on Father's Day. She shared a picture of Gerrard with his arm around her as she wrote: "Happy Father's Day dad. I love you so much. Thank you for everything." Another post from Lourdes Gerrard read "the best" alongside a red heart emoji. Away from his family life, Gerrard stepped aside from his duties as manager of Al-Ettifaq in January. Gerrard took to Instagram to reveal he had reached a mutual agreement to part company with the Saudi Pro League club after two years. He said: "After careful consideration, the club and I have mutually agreed to part ways. This was not an easy decision, but sometimes in football, things don't work out as planned. "The Saudi Pro League is a tough and competitive league, and I have nothing but respect for the players and staff who give their all every day. I want to sincerely thank everyone at the club for their support and hard work.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Steven Gerrard's former assistant rejects chance to take on job in Turkey amid interest from clubs in England and the United States
Dean Holden has rejected the chance to become manager of Turkish side Adana Demirspor. The 45-year old has been working as assistant coach with Adana but, following relegation from the top flight, the club hierarchy have asked if he wished to take over the main job of earning promotion back to Super Lig at the first attempt. Holden, who was previously assistant to Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq, also has interest from other clubs in England and offers to coach in the MLS. The former Manchester United trainee still has a year left on contract out in Turkey so is assessing his options. Holden has introduced individual development plans at Adana Demirspor and spoken of big improvements in their young players. 'I felt that I could probably accelerate my learning far quicker coming here than going back to England,' said Holden about his experience in Turkey, where he has been living at the club's training ground. 'I wanted to put myself in the most challenging environment I could. Can it work in another language? Can I have an impact? You are working through a translator, so you have to be really concise and clear. It is all about finding a connection with a player.' Holden has previously managed at Oldham Athletic, Bristol City, Stoke and Charlton Athletic. On his time with Gerrard and Al Ettifaq, he said: 'Steven Gerrard sees the game differently, as his assistant I learned so much. He empowered me to be creative and come up with ideas, to challenge him. He's a really generous guy and I was grateful for the opportunity – I felt like I got five years of experience from him in a year.
