Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba rates Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard ahead of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas.

While he accepts his former Arsenal team-mate Fabregas has proved more than a handful in their two meetings over the last fortnight, Wanderers' midfielder stopper believes it is Gerrard who is the more complete player.

And his assessment perhaps makes his achievement in keeping the England international quiet for the 78 minutes he was on the pitch all the more impressive.

"It hasn't been easy," Muamba admitted to the Bolton News.

"They are two top players. Gerrard is probably the toughest opponent I have come across in the Premier League.

"He is the all-round player, who can defend or attack. You can't switch off against him. People don't realise just how quick he is until you have tried to catch him. But I did a good job, I think.

"I tried to keep him as quiet as possible, and if we would have scored, it would have been a while different story."