Thursday, March 28, 2024

Is Gerrard the best in the world?

There has always been some doubt about how Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has felt about Steven Gerrard. He has played him often out of position, left him out of some big games and even substituted him against Everton!

He has, in the past, accused him of being, ‘too passionate’. Today, Benitez has put the doubt behind him and hailed Gerrard as the best midfielder in the world.

Gerrard is on ninety-nine goals for Liverpool, but Benitez feels he can go on to get many, many more.

Benitez told the BBC, “We are lucky to have the best midfielder in the world. He scores great goals that few others can manage. But he can score a lot more. Once he has scored his 100th, then we will give him the objective of maybe 150.”

Liverpool are unbeaten in all competitions this season, and Benitez says that Gerrard will help the team continue that record against Stoke City tomorrow.

He said, “The way to win is to play our own football. To keep possession, keep passing and keep it on the ground. We must match them physically, and also make sure the technical aspects of our game and our tactics prevail. But we have Gerrard. His goals tally is outstanding for a midfielder who can play anywhere. There are maybe only two or three players in the world who can score the sort of strike managed in Marseille. He did it again today in training, so we know he can score like that again. He can score a lot more for us, maybe get near to doubling his current tally if he takes the penalties too! But to do that he must play in a good team, but it is possible he could achieve a record of goals for a midfielder.”

What do you think? Is Rafa right that Gerrard is the best in the world?

(Source – BBC)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Graham Fisher


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  • Vuyo

    0 0

    M a MUD fan. There is just one thing I clearly want to admit, Gerrard has outstaning perfomance. I can not campare him with Kaka, they are playing differently, but if I wud be in a position to decide who to put in the first team I will choose Gerrard. He leads with example. He z behindLiverpool’s success. Currently he is the best footballer in the world.

  • Liverpool #7

    0 0

    Gerrard is the most complete footballer in the entire world, he has a great work ethic, he never gives up, he takes shots and scores goals from almost anywhere, he’s consistant, he’s an inspirational leader and most importantly, he humbles himself and stays down to earth no matter how famous he is. I totally agree with Rafa. Steven Gerrard is the best in the world today.

  • dean williams

    0 0

    i think gerrad never played with lots of great players around him like other midfielders like zidane; ronaldino;kaka figo;xavi deco messi lampard ronaldo fabrigas all of them played with great players gerrad is in a class by him self a true leader for many years now.he has been consistent .and never forget about rivaldo he was a super midfielder

  • FRANCO

    0 0

    I think a lot of these commentators are team blind. Gerrard without doubt is a class act. He is all round a great midfielder, the best for now. Kaka, fantastic, Fabregas-wonderful, Ronaldo out of this world. Of the lot, only Ronaldo has the ability other than Gerrard to singly lead his team to victory time and time again in the big games especially. He is trully good. He is too consistent where the others mentioned have not. Only Kaka and Ronaldo also compare having won the UEFA Championsleague. He is the best when you again count the number of goals he’s scored.

  • Franklin Oti

    0 0

    When it comes to who is more competent in the midfield,you ought to give it up to darling G. Many guys are biased on who is the world best midfielder bc of club sentiments. Without being biased,lets give it up to bros G. I agree with pat that other are good but bros G is the best.

  • M.m salman

    0 0

    To d level of objectivity, Gerrad posseses certain characteristics dt others of his kinds do not have. He presents himself humbly yl on pitch, polite, alwayz carries oda players along by gearing dem up. I tink steven G. is fit moraly 2 b d bst in d world.

  • Kingsley

    0 0

    It depends on what u mean by the best. Gerard is a very good midfielder when it comes to takin shots n tacklin but when it comes to passes, fabregas is the best…

  • watkins

    0 0

    I’m not a Liverpool fans but I admit, yes, Gerard is ONE of best midfielderS in the world. Just like Patrick stated above, in this era, there are so many midfielders with outstanding abilities… But, if u asked me who is the best among the best, I personally prefer Zidane. He’s a great player, the only drawback is that he’s emotionally driven, it’s easy to provoke him… In more classical era, I agree with Patric again, Johan Cruyff! But, there’s something I don’t like from this era’s midfielders, they’re tend to play unfair, done more diving, and VERY tempramental… I wanna see the second Cruyff…

  • Patrick

    0 0

    Just to clarify, I am a hardcore Arsenal fan, GOONER TIL I DIE! I guess I could forgive you for confusing me with Chelski, I did name four of their players, and I agree with YNWA: none of those others would have scored some of the amazing goals Gerrard has scored, except for maybe Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas (I’m not a Spain fan, honest, but you have to admit they won Euro2008 in style). As for the classic players, sorry Musu, but Zidane is the best ever, but I must admit I do love Les Bleus. Cruyff is also amazing, I can’t deny that, maybe if I was Dutch I would rate him over Zidane (at least I admit my bias). Frank made the best point though when he pointed out that there are different types of midfielders. Arsenal for the title!

  • danny pacheco's left nut

    0 0

    There have been better tackling defensive midfielders than Stevie, better passers and even better goal-scorers – but has there ever been a more complete all-round, box-to-box player? I don’t think so (although I am biased).

  • GMan

    0 0

    There are so many conrasting styles in midfield players, it is all depends on what you feel is the best quality. In my opinion, Gerrard is the most complete midfielder in the world. That makes him the best!!

  • Joe

    0 0

    comparing Gerrard to Fabregas, Lampard, Ballack, etc is fair one of many really good midfielders, should add Essien to the list too he is too good the be part of Etc.

    There are two clearly standing out who are better than the rest Kaka and Ronaldo, one of them is the best, the other one is second best, not the rest of group.

    and completely agree on Zidane!

  • Musu

    0 0

    Patrick! You’re wrong. It is Johann Cruyff the best midfielder that the world have seen so far!! No other player can replace him.

  • Frank

    0 0

    Patrick, your right, no one has the shear genius that is Zidane. Gerrard is not better than Kaka as an attacking midfielder, nor is he as good as Pirlo in the deep defensive playmaker role, or as good as Xavi or Febregas as a central midfielder playmaker, though none of the rest have anything that really competes with gerrard and then again, gerrard can play all those positions better than most players in the world, even Zidane. He is a true all rounder that I have not seen the like of in my life.

  • YNWA

    0 0

    And that is an unbiased and honest view!!

  • YNWA

    0 0

    Patrick….Who, from all those, would score the unbelievable goals that Gerrard scores?…..none of those players would have scored Gerrard latest……..

  • bc

    0 0

    sorry patrick but you’re obviously an ardent chelsea fan.. you have 4 chelsea players there… how can you possibly name joe cole in that same bracket? lol.. fair play he is without question a very good player, yeah i’ll give you ballack and lamps though..

  • Martin

    0 0

    Gerrard is the most complete midfielder around, without doubt. He can pass, tackle,score, good in the air and most importantly he inspires people with his desire and will to win. He leads by example. There maybe players who are better at some aspects of the game, but Gerrard is the complete footballer, who can do it all!

  • Patrick

    0 0

    Maybe we can say that Gerrard is the best midfielder for Liverpool? He is definetely on the list of best midfielders in the world, but it is too difficult to decide in this era of Kaka, Fabregas, Lampard, Ribery, Pirlo, Ballack, Deco, Iniesta, Xavi, Joe Cole, etc. There are many great midfielders alive and playing these days. But we all know who the best ever was… ZIDANE!

  • Patrick

    0 0

    Maybe we can say that Gerrard is the best midfielder for Liverpool? He is definetely on the list of best midfielders in the world, but it is too difficult to decide in this era of Kaka, Fabregas, Lampard, Ribery, Pirlo, Ballack, Deco, Iniesta, Xavi, Joe Cole, etc. There are many great midfielders alive and playing these days. But we all know who the best ever was… ZIDANE!

  • Martin

    0 0

    Gerrard is the most complete midfielder around, without doubt. He can pass, tackle,score, good in the air and most importantly he inspires people with his desire and will to win. He leads by example. There maybe players who are better at some aspects of the game, but Gerrard is the complete footballer, who can do it all!

  • bc

    0 0

    sorry patrick but you’re obviously an ardent chelsea fan.. you have 4 chelsea players there… how can you possibly name joe cole in that same bracket? lol.. fair play he is without question a very good player, yeah i’ll give you ballack and lamps though..

  • YNWA

    0 0

    Patrick….Who, from all those, would score the unbelievable goals that Gerrard scores?…..none of those players would have scored Gerrard latest……..

  • YNWA

    0 0

    And that is an unbiased and honest view!!

  • Frank

    0 0

    Patrick, your right, no one has the shear genius that is Zidane. Gerrard is not better than Kaka as an attacking midfielder, nor is he as good as Pirlo in the deep defensive playmaker role, or as good as Xavi or Febregas as a central midfielder playmaker, though none of the rest have anything that really competes with gerrard and then again, gerrard can play all those positions better than most players in the world, even Zidane. He is a true all rounder that I have not seen the like of in my life.

  • Musu

    0 0

    Patrick! You’re wrong. It is Johann Cruyff the best midfielder that the world have seen so far!! No other player can replace him.

  • Joe

    0 0

    comparing Gerrard to Fabregas, Lampard, Ballack, etc is fair one of many really good midfielders, should add Essien to the list too he is too good the be part of Etc.

    There are two clearly standing out who are better than the rest Kaka and Ronaldo, one of them is the best, the other one is second best, not the rest of group.

    and completely agree on Zidane!

  • GMan

    0 0

    There are so many conrasting styles in midfield players, it is all depends on what you feel is the best quality. In my opinion, Gerrard is the most complete midfielder in the world. That makes him the best!!

  • danny pacheco's left nut

    0 0

    There have been better tackling defensive midfielders than Stevie, better passers and even better goal-scorers – but has there ever been a more complete all-round, box-to-box player? I don’t think so (although I am biased).

  • Patrick

    0 0

    Just to clarify, I am a hardcore Arsenal fan, GOONER TIL I DIE! I guess I could forgive you for confusing me with Chelski, I did name four of their players, and I agree with YNWA: none of those others would have scored some of the amazing goals Gerrard has scored, except for maybe Iniesta, Xavi, Fabregas (I’m not a Spain fan, honest, but you have to admit they won Euro2008 in style). As for the classic players, sorry Musu, but Zidane is the best ever, but I must admit I do love Les Bleus. Cruyff is also amazing, I can’t deny that, maybe if I was Dutch I would rate him over Zidane (at least I admit my bias). Frank made the best point though when he pointed out that there are different types of midfielders. Arsenal for the title!

  • watkins

    0 0

    I’m not a Liverpool fans but I admit, yes, Gerard is ONE of best midfielderS in the world. Just like Patrick stated above, in this era, there are so many midfielders with outstanding abilities… But, if u asked me who is the best among the best, I personally prefer Zidane. He’s a great player, the only drawback is that he’s emotionally driven, it’s easy to provoke him… In more classical era, I agree with Patric again, Johan Cruyff! But, there’s something I don’t like from this era’s midfielders, they’re tend to play unfair, done more diving, and VERY tempramental… I wanna see the second Cruyff…

  • Kingsley

    0 0

    It depends on what u mean by the best. Gerard is a very good midfielder when it comes to takin shots n tacklin but when it comes to passes, fabregas is the best…

  • M.m salman

    0 0

    To d level of objectivity, Gerrad posseses certain characteristics dt others of his kinds do not have. He presents himself humbly yl on pitch, polite, alwayz carries oda players along by gearing dem up. I tink steven G. is fit moraly 2 b d bst in d world.

  • Franklin Oti

    0 0

    When it comes to who is more competent in the midfield,you ought to give it up to darling G. Many guys are biased on who is the world best midfielder bc of club sentiments. Without being biased,lets give it up to bros G. I agree with pat that other are good but bros G is the best.

  • FRANCO

    0 0

    I think a lot of these commentators are team blind. Gerrard without doubt is a class act. He is all round a great midfielder, the best for now. Kaka, fantastic, Fabregas-wonderful, Ronaldo out of this world. Of the lot, only Ronaldo has the ability other than Gerrard to singly lead his team to victory time and time again in the big games especially. He is trully good. He is too consistent where the others mentioned have not. Only Kaka and Ronaldo also compare having won the UEFA Championsleague. He is the best when you again count the number of goals he’s scored.

  • dean williams

    0 0

    i think gerrad never played with lots of great players around him like other midfielders like zidane; ronaldino;kaka figo;xavi deco messi lampard ronaldo fabrigas all of them played with great players gerrad is in a class by him self a true leader for many years now.he has been consistent .and never forget about rivaldo he was a super midfielder

  • Liverpool #7

    0 0

    Gerrard is the most complete footballer in the entire world, he has a great work ethic, he never gives up, he takes shots and scores goals from almost anywhere, he’s consistant, he’s an inspirational leader and most importantly, he humbles himself and stays down to earth no matter how famous he is. I totally agree with Rafa. Steven Gerrard is the best in the world today.

  • Vuyo

    0 0

    M a MUD fan. There is just one thing I clearly want to admit, Gerrard has outstaning perfomance. I can not campare him with Kaka, they are playing differently, but if I wud be in a position to decide who to put in the first team I will choose Gerrard. He leads with example. He z behindLiverpool’s success. Currently he is the best footballer in the world.

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