Javier Mascherano last night gave Frank Lampard a massive thumbs-down by telling Fabio Capello to build his England team around Steven Gerrard.
The £18million Argentinian is convinced if England are to be a success on the world stage Capello should shape the future around Gerrard - and NOT Lampard.
Enforcer Mascherano's stance is sure to add spice to today's massive Stamford Bridge clash between the England duo as Premier League table-toppers Chelsea and Liverpool collide.
In recent seasons Liverpool's title dreams have been over by this stage with Chelsea and Manchester United showing a ruthless streak from the off.
This time, though, Rafa Benitez has guided Liverpool into a strong position and having beaten United at Anfield, a win at Chelsea would give them their first proper title shout in a staggering 18 years.
And Mascherano has no doubts Gerrard is the man who can lead Liverpool and England to glory.
"If you have a player like Gerrard then you need to make a team around him," he said.
"I can't see Lampard in every training session but from what I see and know about Gerrard I think he is the best. He's the most complete player in England.
"He can play in front, wide, in the middle and can defend. And he can score big goals. He can do a lot of functions for the team.
"Stevie gives a lot of options to the manager and that is why he is the best - he is the most complete player.
"Steve is also a real leader in the dressing room and on the pitch."
For all Mascherano's confidence in Gerrard, the tough Argentinian knows this is crunch time for a Liverpool side desperate to join the elite band of Premier League winners - and they want revenge over Chelsea for last season's Champions League semi-final knock-out.
"Everyone wants to play this game because we all know it will be a very good test for us - that is why we have been waiting for this game ever since we played United.
"We were very disappointed because that defeat at Chelsea meant we could not play the final against United in Moscow. Beating Manchester United was good for us. It gave us a lot of confidence.
"Then we had the Everton game and if we hadn't have won that everyone would have forgotten the United game. Now if we beat Chelsea maybe people will look at us in a different way."
Defensive rock Jamie Carragher agrees but he believes Chelsea are the best team in Europe - and comeback specialists Liverpool can't afford to let Luiz Felipe Scolari's men get in front today.
"That has always been a stand-out quality of United teams in the Nineties and you have to respect them for that and a fighting quality is something you need," said Carragher.
"But against a team like Chelsea you don't want to fall behind. They are on fire and look the best team in England.
"The football they are playing is as good as any in Europe but it is credit to us we are level on points with them.
"Getting a result there will give us more belief we can win the title but there is still a long way to go and United and Chelsea are still big favourites to win it."
The £18million Argentinian is convinced if England are to be a success on the world stage Capello should shape the future around Gerrard - and NOT Lampard.
Enforcer Mascherano's stance is sure to add spice to today's massive Stamford Bridge clash between the England duo as Premier League table-toppers Chelsea and Liverpool collide.
In recent seasons Liverpool's title dreams have been over by this stage with Chelsea and Manchester United showing a ruthless streak from the off.
This time, though, Rafa Benitez has guided Liverpool into a strong position and having beaten United at Anfield, a win at Chelsea would give them their first proper title shout in a staggering 18 years.
And Mascherano has no doubts Gerrard is the man who can lead Liverpool and England to glory.
"If you have a player like Gerrard then you need to make a team around him," he said.
"I can't see Lampard in every training session but from what I see and know about Gerrard I think he is the best. He's the most complete player in England.
"He can play in front, wide, in the middle and can defend. And he can score big goals. He can do a lot of functions for the team.
"Stevie gives a lot of options to the manager and that is why he is the best - he is the most complete player.
"Steve is also a real leader in the dressing room and on the pitch."
For all Mascherano's confidence in Gerrard, the tough Argentinian knows this is crunch time for a Liverpool side desperate to join the elite band of Premier League winners - and they want revenge over Chelsea for last season's Champions League semi-final knock-out.
"Everyone wants to play this game because we all know it will be a very good test for us - that is why we have been waiting for this game ever since we played United.
"We were very disappointed because that defeat at Chelsea meant we could not play the final against United in Moscow. Beating Manchester United was good for us. It gave us a lot of confidence.
"Then we had the Everton game and if we hadn't have won that everyone would have forgotten the United game. Now if we beat Chelsea maybe people will look at us in a different way."
Defensive rock Jamie Carragher agrees but he believes Chelsea are the best team in Europe - and comeback specialists Liverpool can't afford to let Luiz Felipe Scolari's men get in front today.
"That has always been a stand-out quality of United teams in the Nineties and you have to respect them for that and a fighting quality is something you need," said Carragher.
"But against a team like Chelsea you don't want to fall behind. They are on fire and look the best team in England.
"The football they are playing is as good as any in Europe but it is credit to us we are level on points with them.
"Getting a result there will give us more belief we can win the title but there is still a long way to go and United and Chelsea are still big favourites to win it."
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