Liverpool captain Steve Gerrard claims that teammate Luis Suarez would be the greatest player ever not to win one of England’s player of the year awards if he is beaten out by the likes of Robin van Persie or Gareth Bale when the awards are handed out later this year. On Saturday, the Uruguayan striker scored his 22nd goal of the season, a brilliant first-time near post finish, in Liverpool’s 3-2 win against Tottenham. That goal moved him three clear of second-place van Persie in the Premier League scoring chart.

"He's been doing that for us all season," Gerrard told Liverpool’s official Web site on Monday. Suarez also won the penalty that Gerrard converted in the 82nd minute. "He's top scorer in the league now and he's been incredible. I can't put into words how good he's been. If he doesn't win an award this year, he'll be the best player ever not to win an award."

Tottenham’s Bale is the odds-on favorite to land both the players’ player of the year award as well as the English writers’ award, and Gerrard admitted he would be hard to beat. "Bale's in top form and probably one of the best players in the world on current form,” he said. "But luckily enough, we've got a player who is as equally as good as him in Luis Suarez - and I think Luis may just pip him to Player of the Year, in my opinion."