Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has singled out Liverpool great Steven Gerrard as the hardest opponent he faced in the Premier League, placing him ahead of Manchester United legend Paul Scholes and even his long-time teammate Frank Lampard.
Mikel, who shared the Blues’ midfield with Lampard for eight seasons, came up against Gerrard 16 times, losing nine of those duels. Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, the former Nigeria captain said Gerrard’s all-round ability made him the most formidable challenge.
“He’s always like that, the technique is so perfect that once he gets it right, it’s in the back of the net,” Mikel said. “It’s a perfect way to describe those guys, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes. But for me, Steven Gerrard was my toughest opponent. He could run, shoot, tackle, head the ball… he could do everything.”
Mikel lauded the former Liverpool captain’s stamina, adaptability, and leadership, describing him as “the guy who could hurt you anywhere on the pitch.”
Gerrard, who spent his entire Premier League playing career at Liverpool, won multiple trophies before moving into management, leading Rangers to the Scottish Premiership title and later taking charge at Aston Villa.
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