Steven Gerrard makes manager claim while standing on Liverpool's Anfield turf

Steven Gerrard, standing on Liverpool’s Anfield turf, made a bold managerial claim about Newcastle boss Eddie Howe ahead of the Reds' Premier League meeting with the Magpies

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has offered his opinion(Image: TNT Sports)

Steven Gerrard has spoken of his admiration for Eddie Howe ahead of Newcastle's meeting with Liverpool at Anfield.

The Magpies, like several clubs this season, have struggled for consistency in the Premier League and went into Saturday's game 10th in the table, level on points with Bournemouth and Sunderland.

The former Liverpool captain was back on the Anfield turf as a pundit for TNT Sports' coverage of the fixture and took the opportunity to praise Howe’s work at Newcastle, saying he believes he is the best English manager currently. However, he was quick to emphasize that while he "loved " the Newcastle boss, just not tonight!

"I do love him, but just not tonight, which I'm sure he'd understand" said Gerrard. "Just trying to soften him up for this evening. I love his calmness. I love the players that he recruits.

"I love the way he plays. He's always on the front foot. I love his organization. I'd love to watch him coach one day, but for the next 90 minutes, he knows which side of the camp I'm on."

The former Reds midfielder also backed Howe for the England job if Thomas Tuchel leaves the role after the World Cup. He added: "I think he's arguably the best English coach out there at the moment. There's a few others as well that are in that conversation.

Gerrard believes Eddie Howe is the best English coach(Image: Getty Images)

"But further down the line, I don't want to upset any Newcastle fans, because I think he's great for Newcastle.

"And I actually love Newcastle outside of Liverpool as well.

"But I think he's perfect for England at some point down the line. I think he would be my number one choice."

Gerrard became a talking point in Newcastle's pre-Liverpool press conference this week after the former Reds captain praised Howe in the aftermath of Newcastle's Champions League draw with Paris Saint-Germain.

The discussion followed Gerrard’s appearance on TNT Sports, where the 45-year-old offered analysis of Newcastle’s tactical performance against PSG.

Midweek, Gerrard said: “Eddie Howe’s brilliant, I love him. I actually think tactically tonight, he made the right call... PSG ask you so many questions from different areas of the pitch, you have to solidify, you have to be compact and this team is set up to be really dangerous on the counterattack.”

Howe was asked about Gerrard’s praise in a room that immediately shifted in tone once Liverpool’s greatest modern captain was mentioned.

He said: “Steven Gerrard was one of my favourite players that I ever saw play. I thought he was an incredible footballer, so I’ll take any praise that I can get.”