Liverpool captain Gerrard: McClaren better than Eriksson

He said: “I feel my performances have improved under Steve. Against Israel, it was the first time I’d been given my favoured midfield role for the national team.

“Under the previous manager, I’d been moved around an awful lot and it was difficult to find a consistency for myself. But the new manager’s been great with me. He’s had a lot of belief in me and he wants me to express myself in the way I do for Liverpool.”