<text>  Steven Gerrards stunning red card during the 2-1 defeat by Manchester United was a moment of madness borne out of frustration, according to former Liverpool team-mate Jamie Carragher. Gerrard was sensationally sent off within 38 seconds of coming on the pitch at Anfield, after stamping on Manchester Uniteds Ander Herrera. Brendan Rodgers left out Gerrard from the starting line-up but came on at the start of the second-half to rally the troops, however soon found himself walking back to the stands. Steven Gerrard is shown the red card by referee Martin Atkinson after just 38 seconds of the second-half . Gerrard cant believe it after being sent off for a reckless stamp on Uniteds Ander Herrera at Anfield . Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard spoke to Sky Sports after the match to apologise to team-mates and fans . Theres no doubt that not playing at Swansea in Liverpools last game and then not playing this game would be a frustration, Carragher told Sky Sports. Hes been at Liverpool 17, 18 years, hes always been the man, the captain, theres never been a case where hes been out of the team and as soon as hes fit he goes straight back in the team. This is the first time I think, last week at Swansea and today, that hasnt happened, so therell be frustration there. Watching the first half from the bench hed have been disappointed, Liverpool werent playing well, they were losing 1-0. Juan Mata top was on the receiving end of Gerrards first robust challenge after coming onto the pitch . Here is the stamp from Gerrard on Herrera after both players had competed for the ball . But there would have been more frustration. I think hed have been watching players in his position performing not great and thinking, Why am I not playing, why am I not on that pitch? Carragher and his Sky Sports colleagues called for Gerrard to enter the fray at half-time and maintained it was the right call when he replaced Adam Lallana. Steven Gerrard is an emotional player. You see that in his career and its taken teams Ive played in into some unbelievable moments. Sometimes he hasnt played with his brain in terms of when hes done well, its been his heart - the FA Cup final against West Ham, Istanbul the Champions League final. That wasnt Steven Gerrard playing with a cold, calculated head, that was just playing from the heart. He can do special things like that, added Carragher. Gerrard clearly puts all his downwards force into Herreras right leg after the pair collided . Gerrard flings back the captains armband towards his team-mates having been sent off at Anfield . A evidently devastated Steven Gerrard leaves the pitch after just 38 seconds having been sent off . But on the flip side of that, when he plays in games like this and he comes on maybe a bit frustrated - hes had seven red cards in his career, four of them have been Everton and Manchester United, two each now. An Everton one was coming off the bench, an Everton one was 15, 20 minutes into a game. I think the United other one was an FA Cup game in the first half and if I think right they were all straight reds. Theres no doubt being a local player, the emotion of these occasions, the frustration coming into this game, has contributed to the moment of madness. He added: Its a straight red theres no arguments with that. You cant do that on a football pitch, hes been rightly given his marching orders. Gerrard has scored the most goals in the history of Liverpools matches against Manchester United . The 34-year-old has played 34 times against Manchester United during his prestigious career at Anfield . Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers felt Gerrard could have been frustrated by his sides first-half show and acted accordingly. Steven gave an apology to the players and himself, it was probably frustration, hes an honest guy, very competitive and probably frustrated at the first half watching us, he told Sky Sports. Hes come on and unfortunately got sent off. Asked if he accepted his captains apology, Rodgers said: Yeah, he knows as well as anyone its difficult to play big games with 10 men. Hes a wonderful character. Ahead of kick-off Carragher admitted he was not surprised by Brendan Rodgers decision to name Steven Gerrard on the bench for Liverpools crunch clash against Manchester United. A stunned Gerrard walks off the Anfield pitch having been shown a straight red card for a stamp on Herrera . Gerrard, who faced rivals United for the last time in a Liverpool shirt, had to make do with a place on the bench as Rodgers decided to go for a central midfield duo of Jordan Henderson and Joe Allen. And Carragher felt it was the right decision. Speaking on Sky Sports ahead of the Anfield battle, the former Liverpool defender said: No Im not surprised. Hes only played 20 minutes against Swansea recently because hes been injured. Is Steven Gerrard a better player than Joe Allen? Yes. But for Brendan Rodgers weve got to remember than Gerrard is leaving in the summer and Allen will be here next season. So although Rodgers is aiming for the top four that certainly comes into it. 