Paul Scholes names ex-rival as Liverpool’s greatest player | OneFootball

Scholes Names His Greatest Liverpool Player Ever

Liverpool’s storied past is scattered with brilliance – from the shimmering grace of Kenny Dalglish to the mercurial genius of Luis Suarez. In the modern era, Mohamed Salah’s staggering output has rightly propelled him into the all-time conversation. With every goal, every match-winning performance, Salah inches closer to immortality at Anfield.

And yet, for one of the Premier League’s most iconic midfielders, there is no debate. Speaking to TNT Sports, Paul Scholes was unequivocal when asked to name the greatest Liverpool player of all time: “Steven Gerrard.”

Gerrard’s legacy beyond silverware

In a club where success is often measured in medals and league titles, Gerrard’s status feels paradoxical. No Premier League crown, no sustained period of domestic dominance. And yet, as Scholes alludes, greatness doesn’t always wear gold.

Gerrard was Liverpool’s talisman in an era defined more by turbulence than triumph. His crowning glory – Istanbul, 2005 – is the stuff of football mythology, a Champions League final comeback that bore his fingerprints at every turn. He wasn’t merely part of it; he orchestrated it.

It’s easy to forget the landscape in which Gerrard operated. The 2000s were not Liverpool’s golden years. While Manchester United surged, Chelsea rose, and Arsenal glistened under Wenger, Liverpool often looked adrift. Gerrard made them matter.

Why the Gerrard v Salah debate still matters

The present-day exploits of Salah are indisputable. He has won every trophy at Liverpool and is within reach of Ian Rush’s legendary goal tally. He’s a phenomenon – consistent, lethal, and endlessly marketable.

Photo IMAGO

Yet, when legends speak – especially ones who know what greatness looks like – their words carry weight. For Scholes, Gerrard wasn’t just a great Liverpool player. He was Liverpool. And maybe, that’s what sets him apart.

In truth, there’s no need to choose between them. Liverpool’s greatness is found in contrast – the scorers, the leaders, the visionaries. But in the eyes of one of Manchester United’s finest, it’s the No. 8 who stands tallest.