Steven Gerrard names Chelsea star among three fittest players he’s played with

Steven Gerrard was told just how quickly James Milner ran the New York Marathon, and he named the England veteran alongside a Chelsea player in his three fittest former teammates.

Milner retired from football in the summer, after ending a career that started at Leeds, culminated in the Premier League title with both Man City and Liverpool, and finished with a few years at Brighton.

When players retire, some leave their fitness in the past, but Milner has taken it to a new level. Over the weekend, Milner posted a mightily impressive time of three hours and nine minutes in the NY Marathon.

Having been told of Milner’s incredible time, Gerrard explained how the Leeds United academy product is one of the fittest players he has ever played alongside; if not the fittest. He named his top three fittest.

Including his old Liverpool pal John Arne Riise in that list, Gerrard also named Chelsea midfielder Jordan Henderson on The Overlap Daily. Henderson has made a real impact since making the move to Chelsea

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“I don’t think my body could do it; that’s why I have so much admiration for Milly. Listen, I know he’s a machine, and I played with him; he’s one of the fittest players I ever played with, if not the fittest,” he said.

“He and Jordan Henderson would be the two fittest; maybe John Arne Riise. I put him in that category. To run a marathon in that time after the career he has had, fair play,” Gerrard continued, praising Henderson.

If Gerrard’s comments come as surprising, just take a look at Henderson’s running stats in a Chelsea shirt. This season, Henderson has started four Premier League games for Chelsea, starting at Brentford.

Against Bournemouth and Everton, Henderson ran more than any other player. At Brentford and in the loss to Spurs, Henderson ran the second most of any player. He was missing on Saturday due to illness.

Gerrard thinks Henderson will be annoyed that people say Chelsea signed him to be a squad player, or a cheerleader. Xabi Alonso knows why he has signed him, and it is because his running increases standards.