Its a dream to play with Gerrard says Sturridge

The Liverpool captain is set to leave Anfield to join LA Galaxy and he has been hailed by his team-mate, who says he improves any striker he lines up alongside

Daniel Sturridge says that departing Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard is "a dream to play with" and has suggested that the midfielder played a key role in advancing the careers of a number of his former team-mates.

Former England captain Gerrard is set to join MLS side LA Galaxy this summer, bringing to an end a 17-year association with the Reds.

And Sturridge has now hailed the 35-year-old, insisting that the former England captain has a remarkably positive influence on the strikers he plays with, including the likes of Michael Owen and Luis Suarez.

"I think for a striker he's a dream to play with because you're always going to get chances, you're always going to score and the players that have been here have reaped the rewards of playing with him as well," Sturridge told Liverpool's website.

"If you look at Michael Owen and Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez - all their careers have elevated from playing with Stevie, just as they've helped him, but I think as strikers you need players who give you the ball in the right areas.

"If you ask a lot of players around the world who they would've liked to have played with, a lot of them would say Stevie because of the pinpoint passing accuracy he has, as well as getting stuck in and spraying balls 40 yards - as the song sung by Liverpool fans says.

"He's a great player, one of the legends. I think he's the best that Liverpool have ever had, in my opinion."

Gerrard scored 186 goals in 710 appearances for Liverpool, and Sturridge believes the midfielder has an unmistakeable "aura" about him.

The forward added: "I'd probably say a lot of players think he's the best they've ever played against and the best they've played with, and there's always a fear factor around him regardless what position he's playing, regardless of how many minutes he's played.

"He's got an aura around him, he's got that thing not everyone has. Not everyone has a fear factor but he's got a fear factor and he's still got it to this day because of all he's achieved and what he still does now as well."