"Had the power, he could score goals, he was good in the air" - Rafa Benitez names Liverpool legend as best player he ever coached
Former Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez has picked club legend Steven Gerrard as the best player he has ever coached. The Spaniard was the boss at Anfield between 2004 and 2010.
Gerrard - now the Al-Ettifaq boss - is a bonafide Reds legend, contributing 185 goals in 710 games across competitions in 17 seasons between 1999 to 2015. Although he never won the Premier League, the former midfielder won the 2004-05 UEFA Champions League.
Benitez, meanwhile, has managed some of the top players in the world like Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos and Frank Lampard. But the Spanish boss reckons Gerrard is the best of them all, telling The Overlap's It was what it was podcast (as per ECHO):
"He is the best player I have ever coached. In terms of a complete player, Stevie had the power. He could score goals. He was good in the air. He could use both feet, and he could shoot from distance.
"He could take penalties. His deliveries from corners or free-kicks (were really good). (He could) defend, if it was necessary, as a full-back in the Champions League. He had energy, trained well and was a good professional. The point with him, he was a box-to-box midfielder in the beginning, and, little by little, he was understanding the game."
Benitez concluded:
"He got better in terms of position on the pitch and making decisions later on, but he was great from the beginning."
Gerrard ended his playing career in 2016 after a two-season with MLS side LA Galaxy.
What's next for Liverpool?
Liverpool have had a superb start to life under new boss Arne Slot, especially in the Premier League, where they are five points clear at the top after 11 games, winning nine times.
Slot's side have also fared well in the UEFA Champions League, topping the standings, being the only side in the 36-team field to win their opening four games. Following the recent international break, they return to action at Southampton in the Premier League on Sunday (November 24).
The Reds have also had a perfect start to their EFL Cup campaign, winning their opening two games, scoring eight times and losing three. In fact, their only loss in 17 games across competitions this season was a surprise 1-0 home loss to Nottingham Forest in the league in September.
Following that defeat, they have won 12 of their next 13 games across competitions, with a 2-2 league draw at Arsenal being the exception.