'Absolute joke': Rio Ferdinand says Steven Gerrard used to do something that made England players 'crumble'
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Liverpool head into the final international break of the season with the expectation of lifting the Premier League trophy upon their return.
It has been a long slog since the last pause in play arrived in November, with the Reds putting themselves in a brilliant position in the months since.
In reality, a number of the Liverpool squad could do with a break ahead of the last stretch, but not many are set to get one.
In terms of England, two Liverpool players have made the cut for Thomas Tuchel’s first ever Three Lions squad. Some fans were not happy with Jarell Quansah’s inclusion, but he and Curtis Jones got the nod from Tuchel.
With just two, fringe, players called up, it is a far cry from the days of Steven Gerrard, when Liverpool had some key men within the England set-up.
Back in those times, Man United’s Rio Ferdinand was also a star man for the national team. And Ferdinand has now opened up one what it was like to play with Liverpool legend Gerrard for England.
Rio Ferdinand recalls Steven Gerrard ‘look’
Gerrard and Ferdinand should have achieved so much more together with England.
Along with the likes of John Terry, Frank Lampard, David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, they made up a ‘golden generation’ of top Premier League stars who never even got close to winning anything.
Nevertheless, they still showed their quality on occasion. And speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast on Friday, Ferdinand highlighted what Gerrard would do if he saw a dip in standard from some of his England teammates.
“Stevie was an absolute joke,” said the former United centre-back. “If he played you a ball and you —– it up, the look of disdain.”
READ MORE: Steven Gerrard showed up in the one game that stood between him leaving Liverpool for Chelsea
“I’m going to give you a story,” chimed in former Man City defender Joleon Lescott.
“My first start for England, playing Russia away, the ball’s come to me I’ve taken a touch and on the half volley I’ve tried to play it into Stevie. I’ve given him a Stevie pass but it was a bit firm. That look come. Oh my God! I had to look away.”
“I’ve seen him do it and I’ve seen people crumble, apple crumble,” Ferdinand replied. “Because it’s just like a look of ‘for that, you shouldn’t be here’.”
How many caps did Steven Gerrard win for England?
We’re sure plenty of Liverpool players were given this same stare when delivering an errand pass to Stevie over the years.
The Liverpool academy graduate had the highest of standards and always put in maximum effort to help the team. He expected the same from everyone else.
Unfortunately, Stevie did play with some dross at both and club and international level, though.
For England, his talent surely deserved better. Still, ending with a haul of 114 caps in a Three Lions career spanning 14 years is not to be sniffed at.
Given what he won with United, Ferdinand may also look back on his international career with some regrets. The defender managed 81 caps between 1997 and 2011.
