Aston Villa’s Steven Gerrard hails ‘best ever Liverpool team to watch’

Steven Gerrard has labelled the current Liverpool team the most satisfying to watch in the club’s history and insisted the thought of potentially scuppering their pursuit of the Premier League title and an unprecedented quadruple has not crossed his mind.

Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Tottenham on Saturday combined with Manchester City’s 5-0 victory against Newcastle the following day leaves Jürgen Klopp’s side three points behind the leaders and reigning champions with three games to play. They also have an inferior goal difference. Gerrard knows Villa will have to deliver the “perfect performance” when they host Liverpool on Tuesday, with the legendary former captain full of praise for Anfield’s latest team.

“I think to watch they are probably the best, because of the speed, the intensity and the mentality of this current group,” Gerrard said. “But I say that without disrespecting previous successful Liverpool teams, because I grew up watching them, the European Cup winners, serial league title-winners, I grew up on all the DNA of that club. I’m well aware that they have had world-class players, managers and teams previously, but I think to watch – on the eye, because of the way the game has changed, it has gone quicker and faster – I think you’re probably watching the best Liverpool team there’s been.”

Asked if he had played out in his head the scenario of possibly derailing Liverpool’s bid for the title, Gerrard replied: “Not really, no, and it didn’t when we competed against Burnley at the other end of the table last weekend [Villa won 3-1].

“Preparation is always about Aston Villa and preparing my team in the best way we can for whatever challenge faces us. Whoever I represent, I’ll go into the game wanting to win. The