Benitez expected Gerrard to scoop award

Rafael Benitez has sent Steven Gerrard and Liverpool on a mission to regain ground on their Barclays Premiership rivals, certain his skipper is “one of the best players in the world”.

Anfield boss Benitez made his bold statement the day after Gerrard was voted third in the European Player of the Year award behind Barcelona’s Ronaldinho and Frank Lampard of Chelsea.