Steven Gerrard Names The Two England Players He 'Pretended' To Like

Steven Gerrard is touring the country for fan events and started with a trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland, and during the question and answer session, the Liverpool legend revealed the extent of the rivalry within the England squad.

The midfield boss compiled an impressive 114 caps - the fourth most capped player for England behind just Peter Shilton, Wayne Rooney and David Beckham - scoring 21 goals during a 14-year span while eventually becoming captain before retiring from international football in 2014.

_{Gerrard celebrates scoring a goal for his country. Image: PA}

Though despite England assembling a team dubbed as the 'Golden Generation' which included the likes of Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, to name but a few, the Three Lions failed to deliver on the international front.

Players across the Premier League's finest from Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea forged what seemed a talent rich starting XI and squad.

_{Golden Generation. England's team from 2006. Image: PA}

But putting aside club rivalry proved a hard task as detailed by Gerrard who confesses there's hatred for United pair Rio Ferdinand and Gary Neville.

"When you're lining up against in the tunnel against Rio and Gary Neville you want to do everything in your power to beat them, there's hatred there, that's exactly how it is," he said via Belfast Live.

While saying he pretended to like them while on international duty.

"When you meet up for England at that time, you pretend you like them, but your career finishes, their career finishes and your friendship starts for real."

_{Gerrard and Ferdinand working together for BT Sport. Image: PA}

Since calling time on his playing career, Gerrard rejoined Liverpool in a coaching capacity while juggling punditry work on TV.

And after playing alongside and against Ferdinand, the pair are once again reunited in the studio working together for BT. A role which the 37-year-old is enjoying.

"I've got nothing but respect for Rio as a player, played for a top club all his life, he's a good fella as well, I'm enjoying the role at BT [Sport TV] with him as well."

An honest and raw insight into life as an England international.

Topics: England, Steven Gerrard

Nasir Jabbar

Nasir Jabbar is a journalist at SPORTbible. He graduated from Bath Spa University with a BA in Media Communications. He's a combat sport aficionado, and has contributed to MMA websites AddictedMMA and CagePotato. Nasir has covered some of the biggest fights, while interviewing the likes of Conor McGregor, Michael Bisping and Anthony Joshua. He's also an avid Bristol City fan.

@https://twitter.com/NasJabbar