Gerrard has scored six goals in his last three games for the Reds.
McAteer told Sky Sports News: “When a player like Steven Gerrard, arguably the best player in the world at the moment, gets space then he’ll hurt you all day long.
“You can’t really compare him to Lionel Messi because they both influence the game in different ways.
“The closest to Steven Gerrard at the moment is probably Kaka – and I would say Gerrard is above him in the best player ratings.
“He influences the team all over and it’s not just about the goals. It’s what he does off the ball, his movement and the way he brings players into the game.”
