Former Liverpool player Gary McAllister has backed Zinedine Zidane’s claims that Steven Gerrard is the best player in the world at the moment.
The Scot, who won the UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup the sensational 2000-2001 season made clear his admiration for the England international and hinted that the arrival of Fernando Torres has pushed Gerrard to become an even better midfielder.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, McAllister stated, “Someone like Lionel Messi at Barcelona can put together wonderful pieces of skill, there is no doubt about that.
"Steven is a different type of player, but I don't think there is anyone who influences their team more than him. Or the players around him for that matter.
"He drives the team forward and you've seen that again with his performances over the last week. He has been phenomenal. I read what Zidane said and it's hard to disagree.
"There is still plenty of improving in him because he never settles for what he has got. He's not 30 for another year and a bit and, with the hunger he has, he will keep pushing himself – and Liverpool."
"I definitely think the arrival of Fernando Torres at Liverpool has elevated Steven's game again.
"Their partnership and understanding has been there from day one and you can tell by watching them when they are on the pitch together just how much they like partnering each other. A lot of the time their first instinct is to look for one another and that underlines the trust they have.
"The phrase 'world class' is bandied about too often nowadays, but you would have to say those two are.
"Steven has been given licence to roam but his best work still comes from central areas. There was the debate about where he was playing a couple of seasons ago and people don't mention it now.
"But the penalty he won at Old Trafford came because he broke forward from a central role, not from out wide."
The Scot, who won the UEFA Cup, League Cup and FA Cup the sensational 2000-2001 season made clear his admiration for the England international and hinted that the arrival of Fernando Torres has pushed Gerrard to become an even better midfielder.
Speaking to liverpoolfc.tv, McAllister stated, “Someone like Lionel Messi at Barcelona can put together wonderful pieces of skill, there is no doubt about that.
"Steven is a different type of player, but I don't think there is anyone who influences their team more than him. Or the players around him for that matter.
"He drives the team forward and you've seen that again with his performances over the last week. He has been phenomenal. I read what Zidane said and it's hard to disagree.
"There is still plenty of improving in him because he never settles for what he has got. He's not 30 for another year and a bit and, with the hunger he has, he will keep pushing himself – and Liverpool."
"I definitely think the arrival of Fernando Torres at Liverpool has elevated Steven's game again.
"Their partnership and understanding has been there from day one and you can tell by watching them when they are on the pitch together just how much they like partnering each other. A lot of the time their first instinct is to look for one another and that underlines the trust they have.
"The phrase 'world class' is bandied about too often nowadays, but you would have to say those two are.
"Steven has been given licence to roam but his best work still comes from central areas. There was the debate about where he was playing a couple of seasons ago and people don't mention it now.
"But the penalty he won at Old Trafford came because he broke forward from a central role, not from out wide."
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