I played against Roy Keane, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard, but the Liverpool legend was better than all three.

Kevin Nolan faced a number of incredible midfielders during his career, but there was one that stood out above the rest.

The 42-year-old played in the Premier league and the Championship between 1999 and 2015 for Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham.

During that time he faced some true legends of the game at their peak.

Characters like Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira.

But it was Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard That was Nolan's toughest opponent.

Gerrard scored 186 goals for Liverpool in 710 senior appearances in a storied career at Anfield.

Speaking to talkSPORT Breakfast, Nolan said: “The one that always stands out is Stevie. Stevie is the best because he could do anything.

“Everyone doesn't realise how good he was until you're there and you're like, 'I've got this, I'm having a good game here, I'm doing well.'

“The next minute he had already scored a goal and you thought: 'I didn't see that'. That's how he was. He had a fire.

“I remember playing against Robbie Fowler many years before. We played against them behind closed doors and it was about Robbie recovering from injury, but Gerrard also played in that game.

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“That's when I realized that he was head and shoulders above everyone else in that game and that day.

“I have to say Stevie was a legend of the game.”

Nolan was part of David Moyes' team at West Ham but has now left the club.

That has given him a taste for coaching and he is considering more roles on the bench in the future.

“I definitely want to do it again,” she said. “I feel like it's time. I feel like I've proven the method.”

“I had a couple of great seasons at County. I feel like I still have some unfinished business with that, but it was football.

“It was someone who made the decision and it wasn't in my hands, but never say you won't go back there.

“David has been fantastic to me in giving me the opportunity to return to West Ham, a club I loved, a club close to my heart.

“It was very special to be able to work and watch him work day after day and know that I was part of that team that brought that success.”