"Not even close"; Jamie Carragher end Gerrard vs Lampard vs Scholes debate

According to former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, the opinions of some of the world's top managers make Steven Gerrard stand out above his former England teammates Frank Lampard and Paul Scholes.

As Carragher played alongside all three midfielders during his career when they were on the England squad, there has been an ongoing debate about which of the 'golden generation' players - Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, or Paul Scholes - was the best.

Jamie Carragher, who spent his entire playing career at Liverpool like his decorated teammate Steven Gerrard, feels that Gerrard's appeal to top managers in the Premier League sets him apart from his fellow midfielders Lampard and Scholes.

Speaking about the matter on The Peter Crouch Podcast, Carragher said:

"It's not even close is it? People think I don't like Frank Lampard and I don't like Paul Scholes. You know when this debate comes up, and I go, 'They were amazing players, but it's not even a debate, it's not even close.'

"I'll tell you what kills the debate. Alex Ferguson tried to sign him (Gerrard) and so did Jose Mourinho. And they had Scholes and Lampard."

 Peter Crouch, who hosted the conversation, appeared to agree with Carragher's assessment, given that the former lanky striker spent several seasons playing for Liverpool himself. 

Crouch also played with Gerrard in the England national team, sharing the dressing room with him on a few occasions.

In 2017, Steven Gerrard himself acknowledged that Jose Mourinho had attempted to sign him on multiple occasions for different clubs. Gerrard stated:

"Of course there was a lot of speculation around 2004-05. He (Mourinho) tried to sign me about five or six times during my career. Twice at Chelsea, he tried to sign me at Inter Milan and for Real Madrid as well."

 It would be intriguing to see if Jamie Carragher's view of Steven Gerrard would have remained the same had Gerrard departed Liverpool for a new challenge, as he had been courted by other clubs in the past.

What have Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, and Paul Scholes been up to since retiring from professional football?

Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard made their debuts for their respective clubs in the 1990s and went on to become household names for football fans over the course of their careers.

Paul Scholes played for Manchester United across two stints between 1993 and 2013, initially retiring at the end of the 2011 season before making a dramatic comeback. The 11-time Premier League winner has since tried his hand at punditry and occasionally appears on Sky Sports' telecasts.

Frank Lampard made his debut for West Ham United in 1995 and moved to Chelsea in 2001, where he played until 2014. He became a bona fide legend with the Blues, climbing to the top of their all-time goalscoring charts. 

He had short spells with Manchester City and New York City FC, before retiring in 2016. Since then, Lampard has delved into football management.

Steven Gerrard debuted for Liverpool in 1998 and played for the Reds until 2015. 

He won the Champions League with the club in 2005, putting in multiple iconic performances in their improbable cup run. Since retiring, he has enjoyed managerial stints with Rangers FC and Aston Villa, but is currently without a job.