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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Tom Cavilla & Stephen Killen

'It's not normal' - Owen Hargreaves compares Jude Bellingham with Liverpool legend he loves

Jude Bellingham has been likened to Steven Gerrard after another eye-catching display for Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

The English midfielder opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening, displaying effective movement inside the City penalty area to head past Ederson from close range. Bellingham was also on target against the Sky Blues when the sides met during the quarter-finals of Europe's elite competition during the 2020/21 season.

It is anticipated many clubs will be chasing the signature of the Birmingham City academy graduate next summer, in a move which could see the 19-year-old become the next big name to depart Dortmund in favour of a move to England.

READ MORE: 'All costs' - Jude Bellingham goal against Man City leaves Liverpool fans making same point

READ MORE: 'To be honest' - Jude Bellingham addresses future amid Liverpool transfer rumours

Many Liverpool supporters are hopeful Bellingham will be Merseyside-bound as the Reds look to reset their midfield department, providing Jurgen Klopp with a long-term solution in this area of the pitch Discussing the quality of the England international on BT Sport, former Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves admitted Bellingham reminds him of Gerrard.

"Jude can do everything: be physical like Stevie G, he can be aggressive, can play passes over the top, run beyond you, dribble - that's the type of player you’ve got to worry about because they can do everything," he said.

"The way he speaks for a 19-year-old, it’s not normal. His composure, calmness and elegance to his game, he’s a defensive midfield player scoring against City and playing balls with outside of the foot. He’s a swiss army knife, he is. Today they wanted him to play higher so he could get them higher up the pitch, he did."

One positive for the Reds should they plot a summer switch is that the Dortmund star himself is a huge admirer of Gerrard. The now Aston Villa manager, of course, spent the near entirety of his career at Anfield, meaning there is a good chance Bellingham has paid close attention to a number of Reds matches during which the former club captain was playing.

Asked what player in history he’d love to have swapped shifts with, he said : “Stevie G, easily to be fair. In fact, no it is not easy, I think him or Rooney definitely close. But I think I would go Gerrard, though. The No.8, similar position to me, so yeah, I would probably go with him.”

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