Gerrard going for gold again

As UEFA Champions League kicks off for 2006, the star of the competition in 2005 is not yet ready to leave the stage. Liverpool FC talisman Steven Gerrard leads his team against SL Benfica tonight as the English side continue their title defence in the first knockout round.

uefa.com honour
Gerrard's endeavours in steering Liverpool to a fifth European Champion Clubs' Cup triumph in 2004/05, not to mention his efforts as the Reds negotiated the six qualifying matches before topping a tough 2005/06 UEFA Champions League group, earned him a place in the uefa.com users' Team of 2005. He told uefa.com of his delight at the accolade. "Any award you get which is voted by the fans is always special and important," he said. "Obviously they are the people who watch you and it's important they rate you, see you doing well. But the most important thing for me is to achieve things for the team and win medals."

Best year
He certainly achieved in that regard last season, so was 2005 his best year as a player? "Yes I think so because I won the most important cup you can win at club level," he said. "And also to be the captain and lift that cup was very special. It's a year I'll never forget.

Dream fulfilled
"It's a dream come true. As a little boy I supported Liverpool, watched them, you see them lifting trophies and being successful, it's what you want to do yourself when you become a man, so to lift the European Cup is something I will never forget. Also, we're representing all the 'Pool fans across the world and it's important that we're very successful."

Half-time thoughts
Gerrard memorably sparked Liverpool's amazing fightback in the Istanbul final but he said even he thought the game was up as AC Milan led 3-0 at half-time. He told uefa.com: "You're 3-0 down to one of the best teams in the world, you fear the worst, and in the second half you just want to come back and maybe score a goal and play for respect, but because the goal came so early and the fans were behind us, you start to believe there's a little chance you can come back into it."

Reds progress
Liverpool are very much in contention again this season and, chasing second place in the English Premiership and an FA Cup win, Gerrard is positive about Liverpool's progress. He said: "We're improving all the time. Last season domestically we were really disappointing - to finish fifth. This year we have improved a lot, we're in the top four now, it's important we keep winning. I think the future is really bright - we're improving as a team and individually so it's looking good."

Benfica threat
After impressive league and cup wins in the past seven days, the focus now switches to SL Benfica. Is he confident of advancing to the last eight? "Yes, of course I'm confident we can beat them over two legs, "he said. "I don't see why not. We are the champions, we'll show them respect, but we won't be fearing them. We are confident we can go into the last eight but it's a tricky tie because Benfica have beaten Manchester United [FC] and they have nothing to lose and will go into it as underdogs."

One match at a time
No one has retained the European Champion Clubs' Cup since Milan in 1990 and Gerrard refuses to look quite that far ahead. He said: "We've got a chance, just same as all the other teams; we're just going to take each game as it comes. We don't want to set targets and say yes we're going to win it, because it just raises expectations but we're confident we can go into the last eight and then we know whoever we come up against will be in for a very difficult match."