Benitez salutes ‘special’ Gerrard

STEVEN GERRARD blasted his way back onto the European centre stage with the sort of performance that makes him a “special player” even for hard-to-please boss Rafael Benitez.

Two goals, one a twice-taken penalty, got Liverpool off to the perfect start to their Champions League group stage campaign in Marseille.

The 2-1 victory in the Stade Velodrome on Tuesday night saw skipper Gerrard finally shrug off the months of worry and pain he has endured from a nagging groin problem.