Gerrard vs Lampard vs Scholes: Joe Cole answers the debate

Joe Cole has answered one of football’s most contentious debates: who was the best player out of Frank Lampard, Paul Scholes and Steven Gerrard?

The three legendary midfielders are still constantly compared, years after hanging up their boots.

Lampard, now the manager of Everton, retired in 2016 – the same year as current Aston Villa boss Gerrard. Scholes, meanwhile, ended his playing career three years earlier in 2013.

The trio were all unbelievable midfielders, unquestionably three of the greatest players of the Premier League era.

Fitting them into England’s midfield in the early-to-mid 2000s was a conundrum that Sven Goran-Eriksson never managed to solve. The Swedish manager’s decision to push Scholes out to the left wing on occasions is still criticised all these years later.

Cole, who was a fine midfielder himself, had the privilege of playing and competing against all three legends during his career.

Speaking to Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, FIVE, Cole was first asked to name the best midfielder in Premier League history.

“I wouldn’t say he’s the best but he gave me the most trouble: [Patrick] Vieira,” Cole said. “He was a machine. I felt like an Under-14! I beat him in the air once, that’s all I’ve got.”

Ferdinand then said: “Okay: Stevie, Scholesy, Frank – who you taking?”

Cole gave it some thought before replying: “I’d say the most complete is Stevie because he could do everything.

“You have to put some context on the question. If I’m managing a mid-table team and I get to have any of those players at the age of 21, I’m taking Stevie… because you know that even when things are going wrong, he can drag you out.

“It’s a hard question. Maybe you’ll ask me tomorrow and I’ll change my mind.”

Sounding a little