Steven Gerrard admits former England pal levels above current crop

STEVEN GERRARD has said that one Manchester United legend would be the best midfielder in the league if he played in the current Prem era.

Gerrard was a guest on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast when he made the bold claim that former England teammate Paul Scholes would be levels above the rest of the league.

2 Steven Gerrard said a former England teammate would be the best in the Premier League Credit: PA:Press Association

2 He said Paul Scholes would be the best player in the modern Premier League Credit: PA:Press Association

He was initially discussing his own ability to play in the modern league, and gave a surprisingly modest appraisal of his chances, before naming his pick for a contemporary more suited to the modern game.

He said: "Could I be the Steven Gerrard that played in our generation? Could be that now? I'm not sure. I'd have to adapt. I think it'd take a lot away from my style.

"I think [Paul Scholes] now would be the best midfielder in the Premier League.

"Scholesy, for me, was very much an in-possession controller of a midfield controller of a game. He can switch the play. You get close and he could pop it round you.

"I'm not sure in today’s game you could leave one on Scholesy, for example."

Gerrard and Scholes played together 25 times for England between 2000 and 2004.

They split minutes on the field due to the strength of England's midfield department at the time, which also included stars such as Frank Lampard and Michael Carrick .

But it was enough for the Liverpool legend to be certain that he was levels above anything the league currently has to offer.

He continued: "He would have everyone terrorised in the Premier League.

"I'm telling you right now, he would have everyone terrorised in the Premier League now.

"He'd be the best midfielder in the Premier League, hands down."

Listen to the full Rio Meets Steven Gerrard interview on Apple Podcasts and Spotify .