Liverpool star Suarez named PFA Player of the Year

Their title dreams may have hit a significant roadblock yesterday but there was a measure of consolation for Liverpool last night as Luis Suarez was named the Professional Footballers Association’s (PFA) Player of the Year.

The 27-year-old has been the driving force behind Liverpool’s title assault this term, scoring 30 goals despite missing the first six games of the campaign as part of his punishment for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic.

That contribution was enough to see the Uruguayan win the prestigious gong at an awards ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

Chelsea midfielder Eden Hazard scooped the young player of the year award.

Suarez was one of three Liverpool players named in the Premier League team of the year.

He was joined in the select XI by Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard, whose slip against Chelsea yesterday led to the game’s opening goal as Liverpool succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to hand Manchester City the initiative in the title race. Gerrard was joined in midfield by Manchester City’s Yaya Toure, Chelsea’s Hazard and Southampton’s Adam Lallana.

Everton’s Ireland international Seamus Coleman was selected at right back with Southampton’s Luke Shaw at left-back with the central defence made up of Manchester’s City Vincent Kompany and Gary Cahill of Chelsea.

Cahill’s Chelsea team-mate Petr Cech was selected as goalkeeper.

Ireland’s Andy Reid of Notts Forest was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year.

Meanwhile, Kris Commons has been named PFA Scotland player of the year.

PFA Championship Team of the Year: Schmeichel (Leicester), Trippier (Burnley), Cresswell (Ipswich), Morgan (Leicester), Shackell (Burnley), Drinkwater (Leicester), Reid (Notts Forest), Bryson (Derby), Hughes (Derby) Ings (Burnley), McCormack (Leeds).