Cristiano Ronaldo impresses in first season at Manchester United and Thierry Henry is an Arsenal icon, but Steven Gerrard’s return to form at Liverpool Rated better in his prime
Steven Gerrard has surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo and Thierry Henry on the list of all-time Premier League legends, according to John Obi Mikel.
Mikel spent 11 years playing for Chelsea in the Premier League, playing against some of the game’s biggest stars. The Nigeria international helped the Blues win two Premier League titles, as well as the Champions League, Europa League, four FA Cups and two Carabao Cups.
He had faced some strong opponents in his time, but as a midfielder, the one he feared most was always Liverpool legend Gerrard. Gerrard has impressed so much that neither former Manchester United winger Ronaldo nor Arsenal icon Thierry Henry comes close in his rankings.
When asked by Vibe with Five about the best players he has faced in the Premier League, Mikel named Henry and Ronaldo before saying: “I’d probably have to go back to Steve G. He’s the best in the Premier League. Players, because of me.
“He’s very strong physically. I’m very strong physically too and I know I can take people away from the ball, but not Gerrard. I can’t take him away from the ball. He knows how to find space behind me. You think you have that Got him, but he went away because he’s also very fast and he can shoot to the right or to the left, which is so difficult.
“As soon as you lose him you know you’re in trouble and that’s why he and (Fernando) Torres worked so well together, they scored a lot of goals. We played a lot of important games against Liverpool at that time, the Champions League, the Premier League, They became one of our bitter rivals. “I had some tough moments against them! “
Gerrard played 710 times for Liverpool, contributing 186 goals and 157 assists, establishing himself as a club legend. Mikel played against Torres when he played alongside him between 2007 and 2011, with the Spanish striker benefiting from Gerrard’s skills.
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“I’ve always said my toughest opponent in the Premier League was Steve G,” Mikel added. “Do you remember when he started playing for Liverpool as a number 10 with Fernando Torres up front? Oh my god!
“Quick, very technical, strong, powerful and he can tackle too. You are looking for a No. 10 who can tackle! I know he hasn’t played in this position for long but he is a very good player. Very tough guy to play against. He knows how to find the space between you and the defender. “Yeah, for me, Stevie G is that guy, he’s just that good. “
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In another blow to Ronaldo, Mikel named Messi as his favorite player. His Chelsea side faced Messi in his prime in Barcelona, an experience Mikel described as “impossible”.
He added: “For me, I really don’t see any comparison between Messi and Ronaldo,” he added. I think Messi is from another planet. “I just think he’s that good.”
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