The Premier League has seen numerous top midfielders play for a range of clubs over the past 30 years or so.
One of the most iconic midfielders in Premier League history is Steven Gerrard.
In his playing career, Gerrard made 504 top-flight appearances, scoring 121 goals and delivering 97 assists along the way.
Despite not winning a league title in 17 years in Liverpool’s first team, the midfielder was one of the first eight former players to be inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame back in 2021.
Now though, a pundit and former top-flight player has made a claim about of of Manchester City’s current midfielders and how he ranks among the likes of Gerrard in terms of all-time greatest Premier League midfield stars.
Kevin Nolan puts Kevin De Bruyne on the same level as Steven Gerrard
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live (via BBC Sport) just before City’s 3-1 win over West Ham United, Kevin Nolan had this to say about Kevin De Bruyne and how he compares to Gerrard.
He said: “Kevin De Bruyne does things that no one else can do. He makes passes no one else can make.
“I would go as far to say that not even Steven Gerrard could make the passes that we see Kevin De Bruyne do.
“Gerrard is the best player to have played in the Premier League, the best midfielder to do so, but Kevin De Bruyne is getting closer to him than anyone ever has.”
De Bruyne is one of the best midfielders in the world
Nolan isn’t the only pundit to share his admiration for the Belgian as Don Hutchison recently claimed that De Bruyne could be seen as one of City’s greatest ever players.
During his time in England with Chelsea and City, De Bruyne has made 263 Premier League appearances in total, scoring 69 goals and providing 115 assists along the way as well as lifting the league trophy six times.
Given how highly regarded Gerrard is to most Premier League followers, the fact that Nolan has shared how he feels De Bruyne is on a similar level to him shows how much he admires the City star.
