Gerrard: We're lucky to have Luis
Steven Gerrard predicts Liverpool will have plenty more highs to come in the near future – particularly with the world-class talent of Luis Suarez leading the line.
The Uruguayan added to his PFA Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year accolades with a hat-trick of trophies at the inaugural Liverpool Players' Awards Dinner on Tuesday night.
Suarez scooped the Players' Player of the Season, Supporters' Player of the Season and Goal of the Season honours on a star-studded night at the ACC Conference Centre.
Afterwards, Gerrard paid a glowing tribute to his teammate, reiterating once more his belief that he's the best he's ever played with.
The captain told Liverpoolfc.com: "It's obviously under very difficult circumstances after what happened 24 hours ago, but the awards evening has gone fantastically well.
"I'd like to say a huge congratulations to all of the winners of the awards - none more so than Luis Suarez, who seems to be cleaning up at the moment and deservedly so.
"We're lucky to have a world-class talent in Luis playing here with us and helping us to try and win things and be successful.
"He's number one - and he's out there by a bit of a distance as well. That's no disrespect to all of the players I've played with; I've been lucky enough and blessed to play with some top, top talents, both for club and country, but this fella can do the lot.
"He's different than most footballers. His heart is as big as anyone's out there and I don't have to mention his talent - you see it week in, week out. He's a fighter, a winner who doesn't give up.
"There is a little bit of disappointment looming around at the moment, but I think if this fella stays around for a few more years, there are some really, really big nights to come."
The Players' Awards Dinner came just 24 hours after Monday's disappointing 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Though that point took Liverpool to the summit of the Barclays Premier League table, Manchester City are now firm favourites to clinch the title.
Nonetheless, regardless of what happens in the next few days, Gerrard feels it has been a campaign littered with positives.
"It's been incredible," he reflected. "That's all I do as a player - and I think that's what has helped me to play at the top for so long - and that's reflect on myself personally, my teammates, and the club as a whole and the progression it makes.
"We've made huge strides as a team. Collectively we've all been fighting and will continue to fight all the way until the end.
"But there's no doubt about it - to bring Champions League football back is an unbelievable achievement because the standard in the league is so high and it's so difficult to achieve.
"We'll have to wait and see how the final couple of games pan out, we keep our fingers crossed, but the plan is to go and beat Newcastle and if it's not to be, we keep fighting again next year."
Gerrard concluded: "Being a player for this club, it's the biggest message when you sign professional forms, or you sign for this football club - you never, ever get too high when you win a big award or a big trophy, and you never get too down when one slips away. You continue to fight game by game.
"I stand here really proud of my teammates and with a huge belief that if this group of players sticks together and we can make the right couple of additions to strengthen it again in the summer, the future is bright for this club. There is no doubt about that."
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You can watch the LFC Players' Awards Dinner in full on LFC TV at 6pm BST and 10pm on Wednesday night.