Steven Gerrard settles Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard debate with surprise pick for the Premier League's best midfielder

Steven Gerrard made his feelings on the debate between him, Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard clear while blind ranking the Premier League's top midfielders for SPORTbible.

In the 2000s, England enjoyed a 'Golden Generation' with a midfield that many believe to be one of the best of all time made up of Manchester United's Scholes, Chelsea's Lampard and Liverpool's Gerrard.

Of course, being from different Premier League rivals has led to a constant debate over which of the three was the better player, and now Gerrard himself has answered the question.

Steven Gerrard settles Paul Scholes and Frank Lampard debate in blind ranking

Although they never won a major trophy together with England, Scholes, Lampard and Gerrard are among some of the most successful players in Premier League history.

With United, Scholes won 11 Premier League titles, two Champions Leagues and three FA Cups.

Lampard won three Premier League titles, one Champions League, one Europa League and four FA Cups with Chelsea.

Meanwhile Gerrard famously won one UEFA Cup, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the iconic 2005 Champions League with Liverpool, but, for now at least, finished his career without a Premier League title.

It is therefore no surprise that many struggle to separate the trio, but when asked for his blind ranking of the top 10 Premier League midfielders, Gerrard made his decision.

Despite the fact he still had most of the list left for selection when Scholes' name came up, it's clear Gerrard wasn't too happy with his options as he selected seventh for Scholes which, at the time, placed him behind Kevin de Bruyne (fifth) and Cesc Fabregas (sixth) but ahead of Rodri in ninth.

Next up came Lampard, who Gerrard fairly confidently slotted ahead of the group of Scholes, Fabregas and De Bruyne in fourth.

And when his own name arrived as the final one in the blind ranking, Gerrard was forced to slot himself into the second spot.

Although some may think that Gerrard coming out on top of the debate between him, Scholes and Lampard may simply have been due to the nature of the blind ranking format, that wasn't the case as the Liverpool legend went on to admit he wishes he'd have been able to put himself on the top spot.

Steven Gerrard names surprise player as Premier League's greatest midfielder

However, as often is the case in blind rankings, Gerrard appeared to have gone early with selecting his top spot, as he surprisingly named Roy Keane the Premier League's greatest midfielder with his sixth pick.

Having played for Manchester United, arguably Liverpool's biggest rivals, not many would expect Gerrard to have selected Keane as his top pick, but he went on to explain exactly why the Irishman deserved to be number one.

"Big fan always have been, I watched him a lot," Gerrard told SPORTbible.

"He's the type of player that I would have liked to play alongside, I think we'd have been good together.

"I learned a lot from him, even though he was a United player, and I followed him for Ireland as well. Big fan."

Steven Gerrard's top ten Premier League midfielders blind ranking in full:

10. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United)

9. Rodri ([Manchester City)

8. N'Golo Kante (Chelsea)

7. Paul Scholes (Manchester United)

6. Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal)

5. Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City)

4. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

3.Patrick Viera (Arsenal(

2. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

1. Roy Keane (Manchester United)