Liverpool star Daniel Sturridge has claimed that Steven Gerrard is the best midfielder he has ever played with.

Following a lifelong association with Liverpool, Gerrard finally waved goodbye to his beloved Reds at the culmination of the recently-completed season and tributes have continually poured in for the man who has done so much for the Merseyside club.

Now former teammate Sturridge has also moved on to lavish further praise on Gerrard and has stated that the 34-year old is the best player he has ever played with ahead of the likes of Frank Lampard, Michael Ballack, Deco and Elano.

Sturridge told LFC TV: "It's a difficult one, but I think midfield-wise I'd definitely say he's the best - and that's not me saying that for the cameras or me saying that because I'm playing with him now.

"I've played with the likes of Lamps [Frank Lampard], [Michael] Ballack, Deco, at Manchester City there was Elano who was a very, very good player, but for me I think Stevie's the one.

"He's got everything, he does everything. I think for a striker he's a dream to play with because you're always going to get chances, you're always going to score and the players that have been here have reaped the rewards of playing with him as well.

"If you look at Michael Owen and [Fernando] Torres, [Luis] Suarez. All their careers have elevated from playing with Stevie, just as they've helped him, but I think as strikers you need players who give you the ball in the right areas.

"If you ask a lot of players around the world who they would've liked to have played with, a lot of them would say Stevie because of the pinpoint passing accuracy he has as well as getting stuck in and spraying balls 40 yards - as the song says.

"He's a great player, one of the legends. I think he's the best that Liverpool have ever had, in my opinion."