Former Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant has explained why he rates Steven Gerrard above Kevin De Bruyne.
Reds legend Gerrard often gets compared to several of his fellow midfielders when it comes to conversations about Premier League greats. The likes of Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes have been frequently mentioned as his competitors in this particular debate.
Man City star De Bruyne has begun to see his name likened to the likes of Gerrard. The former Liverpool captain made 710 appearances for the Reds, scoring 186 goals across a 17-year playing career at Anfield.
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Pennant, who himself made 81 appearances for Liverpool, has explained he rates his former team-mate Gerrard as a greater player than De Bruyne. The ex-Reds midfielder went on to aim a dig at Everton boss and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard.
“If you put Gerrard in this team now… Gerrard was the complete midfielder,” Pennant told Talksport . “He could defend like a centre-back, he could score goals and finish like a striker, he could ping like Scholes. He had everything to his game.
“That’s why I’m edging to Steven Gerrard. It’s close.
“You put Kevin De Bruyne in a very average football team, like you did in the World Cup and everyone was saying ‘where has De Bruyne gone’, he can’t do what Steven Gerrard did in an average team.
“You put Kevin De Bruyne in an average team, like you saw in the World Cup, and he goes missing. Steven Gerrard was playing in an average Liverpool team.”
Talking about Lampard, Pennant said: “I’ve never rated Lamps.
“He’s a good player, don’t get me wrong, but he just scored goals.”
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