Backheel Breakfast: Steven Gerrard apologized to everyone but Ander Herrera

Everyone’s still having a laugh at Steven Gerrard on Monday, thanks to his hilarious sending off against Manchester United on Sunday. The Liverpool captain was subbed on at halftime, went and snatched the armband away from Jordan Henderson, then proceeded to get sent off in less than a minute for stamping on Ander Herrera, and his team went on to lose the match.

Here’s Gerrard’s full remarks on Sky Sports after the game.

”I need to accept it. The decision was right. I have let my teammates and manager down today -- even more importantly I let all the supporters down and I take full responsibility for my action. I tried to jump his tackle, I saw his studs and I reacted wrong. I’ve been in the game long enough to know when you do something like that, especially at the timing of the game, at half-time with 45 to play, a great opportunity to get back in the game. I take full responsibility for it ...

... I don’t know. [It was] probably just a reaction to the initial tackle. I don’t really think I should say too much more on it. I came to speak to apologise to everyone in the dressing room, all the supporters, all the players because I take full responsibility for today’s result.”

So, that’s great in a lot of ways. He took responsibility for what he did and said the loss was his fault. Wonderful. Where’s the apology for Herrera?

Letting your team down and being the biggest reason that they lost certainly sucks, but it’s much less serious than committing an action that could break someone’s leg. That, apparently, didn’t cross Gerrard’s mind. Or maybe it did and he decided he didn’t care. Herrera needs an apology more than Gerrard’s Liverpool teammates.

Arjen Robben will miss several weeks with an abdominal injury. (Bundesliga)

Diego Costa has been withdrawn from the Spain squad because of a muscle strain. (Guardian)

Adam Lallana will miss England’s upcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers with an injury. (BBC)

The head of the English referees’ union is pushing for video technology. (Telegraph)

Real Madrid fans reacted to Sunday’s Clasico loss by punching Gareth Bale’s car. (AS)

Hamburg have fired manager Josef Zinnbauer. (Bundesliga)

Fenerbahce forward Emmanuel Emenike asked to be substituted after being abused by his own fans. (Mirror)

The San Jose Earthquakes opened their new stadium on Sunday. (MLS)

Inter Milan manager Roberto Mancini is the latest to say that the Italian national team should only include those born in Italy. (Football Italia)

Genoa could face a fine or points deduction for failing to pay a transfer fee. (Guardian)

Paolo Bandini on Felipe Anderson, the brightest young star in Serie A, non-Pogba division. (Guardian)

Luca Hodges-Ramon on how football and politics are inseparable. (Beyond The Field Of Play)

Swiss Rambler on Aston Villa’s finances. (Swiss Ramble)

The section in which nothing should be taken seriously.

Here are 4 players Liverpool want to buy this summer. (Telegraph)

Arsenal are looking like the frontrunners for Palermo’s Pablo Dybala, who, notably, is not a defensive midfielder. (Metro)

Juventus’ president insists his club don’t have to sell Paul Pogba. (Sky Sports)

Here’s what we learned from Barcelona’s win over Real Madrid. (SB Nation)

Man United beat Liverpool, thanks to their pressing and some individual quality. (The Busby Babe)

Borussia Mönchengladbach look Champions League bound after their big upset win over Bayern Munich. (SB Nation)

Napoli are sinking without a trace. (The Siren’s Song)

Juventus padded their advantage in Serie A, thanks to Carlos Tevez. (Black, White and Read All Over)

Daniele De Rossi bailed out Roma. (Chiesa Di Totti)

Arsenal beat Newcastle despite a poor second half performance. (SB Nation)

An early red card helped Man City to an easy win over West Brom. (SB Nation)

There’s nothing good on because international breaks are worse than Satan kicking puppies.