“He had everything. If you got him on his day, you could almost forget about it because he was so powerful as a player.”
Frank Lampard is the highest scoring midfielder in the history of the Premier League, and one of most decorated players of his generation.
The former Chelsea midfielder won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League before retiring following a spell with New York City FC.
His 177 league goals puts him fourth on the list of top scorers in the history of the division, and cements his place as one of Premier League’s best ever midfielders.
"He's still nowhere near good enough" https://t.co/HPHSPgE72b
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 7, 2017
Lampard was asked on Monday Night Football to name the three best midfielders he played against in during his top flight career in England, and had no hesitation with with first choice.
“Steven Gerrard, in the Premier League,” Lampard said on Sky Sports, following Chelsea’s 2-1 win over West Ham United.
“He had everything. If you got him on his day, you could almost forget about it because he was so powerful as a player.
“Particularly when you used to go up to Anfield, you know whether Stevie was on his game within the first three minutes because he’d crash through someone.
“But he had everything, other than the aggressive side he has top ability. He was a great all-round midfield player.”
Away from the Premier League, Lampard opted for Barcelona pair Xavi and Andreas Iniesta, two of the best players of the last 20 years.
“If you look in Europe, I’d have to say Xavi and [Andres] Iniesta,” the former West Ham midfielder said.
“I think going to the Nou Camp and attempting to get near them for 90 minutes was very tough. They were absolute naturals on the ball.”
Lampard’s 3 best midfielders:
1) Gerrard ?
2) Xavi ?
3) Iniesta ?? Monday Night Football, Sky Sports pic.twitter.com/kwHp7ZKEL8
— Empire of the Kop (@empireofthekop) March 7, 2017
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