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MIDDLESBROUGH v LIVERPOOL - BOATENG WANTS GERRARD ON THE RIGHT
Middlesbrough skipper George Boateng is hoping Steven Gerrard's exile to the right wing will continue at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.
The 31-year-old has enjoyed many central midfield battles with a player he believes is one of the best in the business.
But as the debate over Rafael Benitez's decision to play the England international out wide rages on, the Dutchman has no doubts where he is most effective.
Boateng said: "Steven Gerrard, for me, is the best English midfield player in the country. He is the new Paul Scholes.
"He is a very, very talented, gifted player and I always enjoy playing against him.
"But I would rather have him out on the right. In a way, it is a compliment because if you are that good and can play in both positions, it is very, very good.
"But if you asked me where he is less effective, I would say stick him out wide. It makes our job a lot easier.
"But at the same time, he is still a quality player whether he plays from the right or not, and Benitez will be looking for a game where he will play from the right and score goals and say, 'I told you so'.
"But I hope on Saturday, he plays out wide."
Boateng will line up against several familiar faces as Boro attempt to extend the Reds' ordinary run on Teesside - they have won only twice in the Barclays Premiership in 10 visits to the Riverside Stadium - with compatriots Bolo Zenden and Dirk Kuyt in the Liverpool squad.
Kuyt, like the Boro enforcer, is a former Feyenoord player, and Boateng is confident he has a lot to offer his new club.
The Boro man said: "Dirk is made for success, and I told him that in pre-season when I spoke to him.
"His head is in the right place, his mental strength is very good. He is very committed and works extremely hard.
"But what people forget is he is very gifted. He is only right-footed, but it is better to have one good foot than two average, and he has a very good right foot."
The Teessiders will hope to build on last weekend's hard-fought victory over West Ham to go level on points with Benitez's side, and the game will give their captain another chance to return to the form which has made him such an important player in recent seasons.
He admits his performances have at times not been up to his usual standard since he succeeded manager Gareth Southgate, but he is quickly coming to terms with the role.
Boateng said: "Before I was captain, I was playing up to my best because I had nothing to worry about; then, I was worrying about other players, how they were doing, how they were playing and forgetting I had a big job to do myself.
"It has been a big challenge for me. You underestimate how much work goes into being a skipper and how many things come besides wearing the armband.
"It is great, it is good fun. I like and enjoy doing it. It is just when you lose, you have to be responsible for why everything went wrong."
Southgate will carry out late fitness checks on England midfielder Stewart Downing, who missed his country's game in Holland with a groin problem, while Lee Cattermole and Andrew Taylor are doubts with a dead leg and a calf injury respectively.
The manager retired as a player when he succeeded Steve McClaren in the summer, but while he enjoyed several successes against Liverpool, he admits he will not regret having to sit on the sidelines on Saturday.
He said: "These are the ones that make me think more and more I have made the right decision because I could not be the one chasing them around."
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