Skip to main content
Liverpool Echo

Ledley King makes Luka Modric claim about Liverpool legend

Ledley King has been talking Steven Gerrard and Wayne Rooney

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 06:  (THE SUN OUT) Steven Gerrard (L) of Liverpool in action with Luka Modric of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on February 6, 2012 in Liverpool, England.  (Photo by John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard of Liverpool in action with Luka Modric of Tottenham Hotspur during the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield on February 6, 2012 (Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Ledley King has claimed Luka Modric dominated Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard

The former England international heaped praise on the Croatian, who he used to play with at Tottenham Hotspur before his move to Real Madrid, during an interview with Rio Ferdinand’s Presents FIVE.


“I’ve seen Luka (Modric) go to Anfield and play against Stevie (Gerrard), you know how good Stevie is. I’ve seen Luka dominate there,” said King.


READ MORE: Everyone is talking about Kobbie Mainoo - but what Liverpool man did last night was jaw-dropping

READ MORE: Michael Edwards to watch Liverpool manager audition this weekend

“I think we thought he was a number 10 but he was someone who wanted to play deep. He wanted to get the ball from the back four and dictate things from there.”

Article continues below

Host Steven Howson joked: “Are you telling me Modric is better than Steven Gerrard?

King continued: “You’d give it to him (Modric) with someone up his a** and he’d turn then play on the outside. He’d not be doing it in a flashy way. Luka’s longevity is a joke, he’s still doing it.”

While Gerrard called time on a glorious career in November 2016, after a spell playing in America for LA Galaxy after leaving his beloved Liverpool, the 38-year-old Modric is still going strong with Madrid.


King also spoke about another of the best footballers to emerge from Merseyside - Gerrard's England team-mate and ex-Everton prodigy Wayne Rooney.

“Rooney (was) quality, but not in the same ‘embarrass you’ way," said King, who revealed Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was his toughest opponent. "(Ruud) Van Nistelrooy was more of a box player. I didn’t fear him outside the box at all. He came alive in the box.

“(Michael) Owen I didn’t fear in terms of footwork. Just in terms of getting in behind you. He was young, I didn’t really play against him to many times when he was rapid.

Article continues below

“(Craig) Bellamy was another one, he was a bit like Owen, he could rinse you.”

Follow Liverpool Echo:


Liverpool FCWayne RooneySteven Gerrard
reach logo

At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the "Do Not Sell or Share my Data" button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Cookie Notice.