‘Steven Gerrard acted different from Liverpool training – I couldn’t believe it’

One of Steven Gerrard’s former team-mates was taken aback when he saw a different side to the Liverpool legend

Stephen Warnock has claimed Steven Gerrard’s found a new level for England compared to training at Liverpool. The ex-Reds defender, who played alongside the club legend in the first team, believed Gerrard truly showcased his skills when away with his nation.

Like Gerrard, Warnock honed his skills in Liverpool’s academy and became a senior squad player by the early 2000s. He didn’t make his England debut until after leaving Anfield, but maintained a good rapport with former colleagues, such as the iconic midfielder and Jamie Carragher.

It was during his initial training camps with the Three Lions that Warnock got a real sense of Gerrard’s capabilities. The 44-year-old shared just how remarkable the iconic playmaker was during an appearance on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.

Speaking about 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.

READ MORE: Steven Gerrard becomes the second Liverpool legend to demand Arne Slot make changeREAD MORE: Prem cult hero with 189 appearances now sells paintings and produces FA Cup Diogo Jota tribute

You can listen to brand new episodes of In The Mixer on Spotify and Apple Podcasts!

“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.

“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.”

Recalling when he witnessed Gerrard’s genuine quality 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 remarks speak to just how dedicated Gerrard was to his profession in midfield for both Liverpool and England. He’s frequently cited as the finest Premier League player never to have claimed the domestic title – and he also failed to win silverware with the Three Lions.

However, he still lifted the Champions League trophy for the Reds, along with 10 other pieces of silverware. Warnock was also part of the Miracle of Istanbul squad, and his early career on Merseyside saw him earn FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Super Cup winners’ medals too.

STEPHEN WARNOCK EPISODE ON YOUTUBE: Subscribe now to be the first to watch the latest episodes of In The Mixer and other original shows, brought to you by Sky Bet. Watch All Out Football’s episode with Stephen Warnock here.