Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has revealed he was a a big fan of Roy Keane growing up.
The Anfield club icon was selecting his toughest world eleven he faced during his career when he opened up on his admiration for the former United skipper.
Keane played a huge part in United’s success during the late 1990s and early the 2000s, winning seven league titles, four FA Cups and one European Cup during his Old Trafford career.
By selecting the former Republic of Ireland international, that meant Gerrard wasn’t allowed to include Cristiano Ronaldo in his line-up, but the former England man was quick to explain his decision.
"He was a cert to go in there," he said on Keane’s inclusion on the Sky Sports Football Show. "He was someone I was a big fan of as I was growing up and I really studied his game.
"Then I had a lot of battles against him and he was a top player.
“I don't think you appreciated how good you were until you were up against him.
“He was fit and strong, a box-to-box midfielder and he had to go in."
Gerrard's world XI in full: Jan Oblak, Cafu, Vincent Kompany, Kalidou Koulibaly, Andy Robertson, Toni Kroos, Roy Keane, Lionel Messi, Alessandro Del Piero, Kylian Mbappe, Didier Drogba.
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