Buzzin Football

After leading Liverpool to three crucial victories in the past fortnight, critics globally are beginning to hail Steven Gerrard as the best player on the planet.

His club have scored 13 goals against Real Madrid, Manchester United and Aston Villa in their last three outings, with Steven Gerrard himself playing the pivotal part. He currently sits as the Premier League’s second highest scorer with 13 goals thus far.

Former world player of the year Zinedine Zidane has publicly stated that he believes there is no better footballer in the world right now, and on current form I would have to agree.

The key switch that has taken Gerrard from being a world-class midfielder to the best footballer on earth has been his move further upfield this season. There were those that believed Steven Gerrard could get no better, with his immense range of passing, tackling prowess and eye for goal, yet Rafa Benitez has taken that to a whole new level.

By unleashing him in a free role behind Fernando Torres, or any other striker he might play, the Liverpool manager has given Gerrard further influence over games. With Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano sitting in central midfield, Gerrard is free to prowl the whole of an opponent’s half of the pitch- to devastating effect.

Yet the man himself, modest as he is, has played down recent hype over his performances. However, there is little doubt that the 28 year-old is fast approaching a peak in his career.

Although Steven Gerrard’s performances for his country have vastly improved over recent qualifiers, every England fan is still desperate to see him influencing games on an international level as he does on a domestic and European level. It is down to England supremo Fabio Capello to play Gerrard where he can affect play the most.

So long as Liverpool’s ‘engine’ doesn’t stall, Manchester United and Chelsea will be pushed right to the wire in this Premiership season’s climax, and England should have the firepower to win their world cup qualifier against a skilful Ukraine, 14th in the FIFA world rankings.