Steven Gerrard spent 17 years of his career performing for Liverpool and was an integral part of the England national team throughout
Stephen Warnock.
Stephen Warnock was taken aback by Steven Gerrard(Image: YouTube/In The Mixer)
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Stephen Warnock says Steven Gerrard went up another level entirely for England in comparison to his training efforts for Liverpool. The former Reds defender spent time in the first team with the Merseyside icon but felt he showed his true potential when on duty for his country.
Warnock spent time in Liverpool's academy like Gerrard and became a respectable player for the senior squad by the early 2000s. He wouldn't make his debut for England until after he left Anfield, but still remained on good terms with his former team-mates, like the midfielder and Jamie Carragher.
It was during his first few training camps for the Three Lions that Warnock would truly see what Gerrard was made of. The 44-year-old revealed just how impressive the iconic playmaker was during an appearance on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.
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Discussing Gerrard's talent, Warnock said: "He was two years older than me. So I got to see firsthand his quality, and it was always interesting because I played up a couple of times in his age group. I remember just thinking, 'Wow, this is the level, this is stupid.'
"Do you remember a lad called Kenny Lunt who played at Crewe? So Kenny was like the top, top player in his age group and everyone was talking about Kenny. They had some great players.
"But I remember there was a game, and I didn't play in it, but I was watching it and it was Crewe versus Liverpool and everyone was like, it's Stevie versus Kenny Lunt, and it was like, 'What's going to happen here?' Stevie just ran over the top of him. He was just unbelievable in the game. And it was like he just had levels to go up."
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (L), Robbie Fowler and Stephen Warnock (R) laugh during a training session at their Melwood training ground in Liverpool, 19 April 2006, ahead of their FA Cup semi final against Chelsea next 22 April.
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (L), Robbie Fowler and Stephen Warnock (R) laugh during a training session at their Melwood training ground in Liverpool, 19 April 2006, ahead of their FA Cup semi final against Chelsea next 22 April.
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Highlighting when he saw Gerrard's true ability for club and country, Warnock added: "I remember my first call up for England was I got in a car with Carra, [he] said, 'Jump in with me and Stevie, we'll help you settle in and whatever.'
"So I got in a car with Carra and he went, 'Watch Stevie here.' I was like, 'What?' And he went, 'He goes up another like 10%'. I was like, 'You can't go up 10%.'
"And then he got to England and it was like he was competing against [Frank] Lampard, like whoever it was in this position, and it was like, 'I'll show you 100%.' It was phenomenal to watch."
Warnock's words speak volumes about just how committed Gerrard was to his craft in midfield for both Liverpool and England. He's often named as the greatest Premier League player to have never lifted the domestic title, and never secured silverware with the Three Lions.
However, he did still lift the Champions League for the Reds, as well as 10 other trophies. Warnock was part of the Miracle of Istanbul squad too, also boasting FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup winners' medals from the early years of his career on Merseyside.
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