Gerrard thanks Benitez and team-mates

LIVERPOOL captain Steven Gerrard insists he has to share his success in winning the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year award with manager Rafael Benitez and his team-mates.

The 28-year-old beat Manchester United’s Ryan Giggs – the recently-crowned PFA Player of the Year – and Wayne Rooney to the accolade.

Gerrard has been on top form this season, scoring 23 goals, 15 of which were in the Barclays Premier League to help Liverpool sustain a title challenge with Manchester United.

However, the England midfielder said much credit had to go to the club’s backroom staff and playing squad for helping him perform to the maximum on a regular basis.

“I’m delighted but I’m a little bit surprised,” he said. “When you look at the quality of the players there are in this league, it’s a great privilege to win this kind of award.

“It’s not just the Manchester United players. When you look at the players the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal and other teams have got, they all have fantastic players throughout their squads now.

“The quality is getting better and better each year so to win this award is a great achievement for myself. But I’ve had fantastic help along the way from everyone at this football club.

“My family and friends come every time I play and everything I achieve in football they are a very big part of that because they are there for me 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“But the biggest thank yous have to go to the manager, the coaching staff and my team-mates.

“Individual awards are great but you don’t win them without great help from those people.”

Gerrard is the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1990 – the last time the Reds won the championship – to claim the honour.

He said he was honoured to be joining the ranks of some former greats at Anfield. “It’s made even more special for me because I am following in the footsteps of Liverpool players like John Barnes, Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish who were heroes of mine,” he added. “Then further back players like Ian Callaghan and Terry McDermott who were heroes to my dad and so many other Liverpool fans.” Benitez paid tribute to Gerrard for the season he has had, and also his attitude. “I’m really pleased for Steven. It is fantastic for him because he was competing with a lot of good players,” Benitez said. “For him to be named player of the year is massive credit to him and shows just how much he has achieved.

“Everyone at the club is delighted that he has been given this award.’’

Meanwhile midfielder Xabi Alonso’s agent has dismissed reports suggesting the Spain international is set for a summer exit. The 27-year-old was rumoured to be on his way out before the start of this season with manager Rafael Benitez pursuing Aston Villa’s Gareth Barry and Juventus interested in taking Alonso to Italy but neither deal materialised.

He shrugged off that uncertainty over his future and has been one of Liverpool’s players of the season but that has not prevented further speculation about what may happen to him at the end of the campaign, with Manchester City, Arsenal and Real Madrid already linked with the player.

“I know nothing about these reports (of interest from City),” Ignacio Ibanez said. “As Xabi has always said he is happy at Liverpool and focused on them.”

Alonso is expected to be fit to face West Brom at the weekend after sitting out Saturday’s victory at West Ham because of an ankle injury sustained in the challenge which saw Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton sent off in the defeat the previous week.

“Xabi was jogging today so if he progresses normally for the rest of the week I think he will be available for the weekend,” Benitez said.

The Liverpool boss also confirmed Fernando Torres will be fit to play despite being substituted at Upton Park.