Lampard had no hesitation in naming Gerrard as the Premier League's greatest midfielder

Frank Lampard was asked to pick the best three midfielders he played against during his illustrious career and he instantly endorsed Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard as the finest of the Premier League era.

Manchester United fans have long campaigned for Paul Scholes or Roy Keane to be placed ahead of Gerrard in the game's Hall of Fame due to their vast collection of trophy triumphs in their success-laden career, yet Lampard had no hesitation in naming Gerrard as the finest midfielder he competed against in domestic competition.

“Steven Gerrard in the Premier League,” declared Lampard in unequivocal fashion. “He had everything and if you got him on his day, you could almost forget about it.

“He was so powerful as a player, particularly when he went up to Anfield. You knew if Steven was on his game in the first three minutes because he will crash through someone.

“He had everything, top ability. He was a great all round midfield player.”

Lampard also included the Barcelona duo of Xavi and Andres Iniesta in his top three, as he suggested the Spanish duo were hard to stop in a midfield duel.

“If you look in Europe, I’d have to say Xavi and Iniesta,” he added. “Going to the Nou Camp and trying to get near them was very tough.”

Cue another round in the enduring debate entitled Scholes v Gerrard, but in the opinion of the highest scoring midfielder of the Premier League era, there is only winner in that discussion.

Gerrard may not have won a single Premier League title during a spell that saw Scholes win 11 league titles under Alex Ferguson’s guidance at United, yet it is the Liverpool icon who gets the Lampard vote.

Online Editors