Former Liverpool star reveals what playing with Gerrard was really like

A former teammate of Steven Gerrard has admitted to 'hating' playing with the Liverpool legend in his time at Anfield.

The winger, who made more appearances for Liverpool than for anyone else in his career, spent three seasons with Gerrard at the club under Rafa Benitez.

He made it to the Champions League final with them in 2007, but left two years later in a career that took in 15 clubs in total.

The  player in question is Jermaine Pennant, who has now revealed he was 'more scared of Gerrard than the Gaffer'.

Speaking to TalkSPORT, the 40-year-old said: 'Steven Gerrard, he was a leader, and when things were going wrong he would put that team on his back, he would rally the troops.

'In the dressing room, before the game, after the game, eve in training, I used to hate being on his team.'

'I was more scared of Steven Gerrard than the Gaffer. I would look at him as the manager, he had that much power.'

Gerrard played over 700 games for Liverpool and won seven major trophies, in a career tarnished only by his failure to win the Premier League.

Since retiring in 2016, the 43-year-old had ventured into management with mixed levels of success.

He took Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title but was sacked as Aston Villa boss after less than a year in his next role.

Gerrard's most recent appointment  has seen him take over Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

On the midfielder's power in the Liverpool dressing room during his playing days, Pennant added: 'He would sometimes give the team talks.

'Rafa would give out little instructions, but then Steven would step up for the big games, and when he talks, he gets the whole attention of every player in the room.'

Despite not always enjoying his time with Gerrard, the winger made it clear his former captain gave an enormous amount to his club.

'On that pitch you would see him box-to-box, challenging those 50/50s, and the fans would get up,' he said. 'The players would see that and start following suit.

'The goals that he scored, that Champions League final in Istanbul, that last minute goal against Olympiakos, he has done so much for that club.'