25.08.2005 - Gerrard wins top UEFA award

---

Steven Gerrard collected the biggest prize on offer at the UEFA Awards in Monaco today, when he was awarded the title of Most Valuable Player.

The Liverpool captain scored the important goals in last seasons qualifier, which earned his side a place in the group stage.

He also netted the all important third goal against Olympiakos, with Liverpool only four minutes away from elimination from the competition, before going on to lead his side to Istanbul, where he put in a man of the match performance in helping Liverpool recover from their 3-0 half time deficit.

Gerrard follows the likes of Ronaldo, Stefan Effenberg and Zinedine Zidane in being named MVP, and is the first winning captain to ever claim the award.

There was disappointment for Jerzy Dudek and Jamie Carragher though, with both players having to settle for being runner up in the Best Goalkeeper and Best Defender categories respectively.

The awards are handed out in recognition of the best performers in European competition last season.