Wayne Rooney settles Steven Gerrard debate in Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard verdict

Wayne Rooney has ended the debate about where Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard stands among his Premier League peers, ranking him above the likes of Frank Lampard

Wayne Rooney speaks on his BBC podcast.(Image: The Wayne Rooney Show)

Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney says Liverpool hero Steven Gerrard is the most complete midfielder the Premier League has ever seen.

Speaking about Gerrard alongside the likes of Frank Lampard and his former Old Trafford teammate Paul Scholes, Rooney said there was only one answer when it comes to the best of the bunch — with the ex-Liverpool man capable of playing multiple roles to a world-class level.

"When you're talking about the complete midfield player, there are five really for me in the Premier League. Four I played with, one I didn't," Rooney said on his BBC podcast.

"That was Gerrard, Scholes, (Michael) Carrick, (Patrick) Vieira, and Lampard. The complete midfield player out of all of them, it has to be Gerrard.

"He could do everything. I think he's played at full-back, he's played midfield, he's played as a (number) ten. He could tackle, he can shoot, he can dictate the game, he can hit long passes.

"We saw him in that period with (Fernando) Torres, where he's become more the assist man for Torres. He had everything as a midfield player. I would have loved to have seen him at Man United, but...

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard

"I think in terms of a midfield player that can do everything, he has to be the one you pick."

Gerrard played more than 700 times for Liverpool before joining the MLS team LA Galaxy. He scored 186 goals in total and carried Liverpool to 10 trophies, including the Champions League.

Earlier this week, he was present at Anfield as the Reds beat Galatasaray. And in that game, Mohamed Salah netted his 50th goal in the Champions League for Liverpool.

As supporters in the home end celebrated Salah's goal, cameras caught Gerrard in a private box happily clapping and smiling as he pumped his fist while working as a pundit for TNT Sports.

"I mean, he's a legend, you know," Hugo Ekitike said after the 4-0 win. "Obviously, I think sometimes people say that he has a difficult season. But for a player like us that have been watching him for four years, it's important.

"Look, tonight, I think he had many chances, but he still had the mindset to give me a great ball to score. So, yeah, I'm really happy for him. He deserved it. And yeah, we need to to do that every game now."

Liverpool.com says: Gerrard could do everything in the center of the field. Dominik Szoboszlai has drawn comparisons with the Reds legend at times this season, but he still has some way to go to reach that standard.