'Paisley would have played SG'
Steven Gerrard could have held down a place in the great Liverpool sides of the late 70s and early 80s, according to Anfield legend Phil Neal.
The former defender, whose unparalleled trophy haul at the club boasts four European Cup winners' medals and eight league titles, was at the heart of the Liverpool teams that dominated the continent with Bob Paisley at the helm.
And Neal believes that his old manager would have gone to great lengths to find a place for Gerrard in his all-conquering sides.
"The biggest compliment I can pay him is that if Stevie G was around when I was playing he would have won a place in our team somewhere," Neal told Goal.com.
"Bob Paisley put some great sides together but I think Stevie would have got into all of them. I don't know who you would have dropped but there would have been a place in the side for him.
"Stevie can play anywhere. He is such a competent player and a classy boy as well. He makes the job look so easy. If anyone in any profession can do that it just shows the class that they uphold within their own industry and that applies to Stevie G in football too."
Perhaps Paisley's best piece of business as Liverpool manager came when he signed Kenny Dalglish from Celtic in August 1977.
Neal played alongside the Scot for eight years and he saw first hand how Dalglish cemented his place in Liverpool folklore as arguably the greatest player ever to wear the red shirt.
"The one thing that Kenny Dalglish couldn't do was play in numerous positions," Neal added.
"Kenny was in a class of his own in a specific role - as a striker - whilst I think that Stevie G possesses an all-round ability. The knowledge and everything else that he has been through in football would allow him to play anywhere on the park."
Neal skippered the Reds for a spell between 1984 and 1985 and he knows Gerrard has all the qualities of a born-leader. He also knows the current captain is an inspiration to other, younger players at the club, including Jay Spearing, with whom he formed a central-midfield partnership at Anfield on Tuesday night.
"As a captain Steven leads by example," said the full-back. "He is not a mouthy sort of person. He will give certain instructions to his teammates and it was nice to see Jay Spearing alongside him.
"Just imagine how big Jay will feel today - to have played alongside Stevie and being in a team that has won 3-0 over their local rivals in his hometown. It will give him a new lease of life to want more."