LIVERPOOL FC - END OF SEASON AWARDS

DEFENDER OF THE SEASON:

Jamie Carragher

A tough choice this, with Skrtel running Carra close. But Kurgan fell away slightly in the second half of the season after some monster displays in the first half of the campaign.
Carragher might get done for pace more than he used to, but for general consistency there's nobody better.
He seemed to eradicate his strange penalty disease this season, and always put in big performances in the big games.
Ane while the Arbeloa incident was a touch on the unnecessary side, if nothing else, he showed the fire remains in his belly.
Elsewhere, Agger had a stop start season due to injury and specualtion, but he is doubtless a fixture in the Liverpool side for the next five years.
The improvmennt of our full backs as the season wore on was another real tonic.
Both right and left back positions were always problem for us, as we lacked the dashing dynamism which players like Cole, Clichy and Evra supply.
While our boys aren't quite yet on that level, Aurelio stopeed up to the plate in the spring and Arbeloa even decided to venture forward with some positive abandon.
The real find was Insua who, for his 20 years, looks an old head on young shoulders. Comfortable on the ball, sensible at the back, he should start ahead of the Brazilian for me.
The real lowpoint was Dossena. Quite what Rafa saw in this guy beats me. He came to Anfield for £7m, with words like 'Italy's first choice full/back winger' ringing in our ears.
They must be wearing blindfolds in Azzurri land. Clueless would be kind.

MIDFIELDER OF THE SEASON

Xabi Alonso

Again, a hugely difficult choice between two massively talented individuals, Gerrard and Alonso.
Nobody quite expected Xabi Alonso to put in such an impressive season after the speculation surounding Gareth Barry's probably arrival and his own probable departure.
It never worked out for reasons that got fairly tiresome, but Xabi just shrugged off the uncertainty and delivered performances of class, popise, energy and good old fashioned grit.
My criticism of Alonso in the past has related to his refusal to get his boots dirty and get further up the pitch, but he rectified that failing this season.
The passing was, as always, exemplary, but he added a willingness to tackle, score goals and LEAD the team in critical games.
At present, there's continuing speculation as to whether Alonso will remain at Anfield next season. Selling him would be a huge mistake.
Although, with teams willing to pay £20m for his services, the signing of a big money second striker at Liverpool could signal the end.
Basically, Torres, another big name forward, a rampaging Gerrard, Mascherano AND Alonso does not fit, so it will be an interesting few months ahead.

Steven Gerrard could have easily have scooped this award following another peerless season.
It seems pointless to repeat the superlatives all over again. But some stupendous goals, great performances, and a razor-sharp cemented with Torres.
Quite simply, the best midfielder in world football. No, Messi plays up front. I'd still take Gerrard though.

Elsewhere, Riera had a decent enough first season. He had high points combined with some periods of relative indifference.
Certainly, there were high hopes when his debut against Man Utd revealed a jinking clever winger seemingly in his pomp.
Performances against Villa at home, and his scorching strike against PSV Eindhoven were just some of a fair few highlights.
For a clutch of games, however, Riera would disappear. Still, he is the first productive left winger we've had in a good while, and for £7m, he can be satisfied with his contribution to the cause.

Mascherano seemed to struggle in the first half of the season. He wasn't destroying opponents' passing games with as much relish as previously, and his passing was, at times, very lazy.
A second half of the season saw more bite and enthusiasm from the Argie, but fans will be wanting a touch more from the midfielder next time round.

STRIKER OF THE SEASON

No contest this really. Fernando Torres underlined that, when fit, he is the best striker in Europe.
When 100% and free of niggles, he is unplayable. The way he tore into Arsenal and Madrid towards the end of the season was breathtaking.
Just a pity we didn't have him available for more games which may have made all the difference in the hunt for the title.
A rusty Torres, carrying a slight knock, is the one who was shackled by Jagielka in both FA Cup derbies.
The electric Torres is the one who swatted aside Blackburn at home and who made a mockery of Vidic's claim tp being one of the best defender's in Europe.
Peerless.

Striker or right midfielder, special mention must go to Dirk Kuyt who has finally, it seems won over the fans.
Though not in the manner we all had initially wanted.
It seems he can't be the bustling number 9-style striker we crave, but instead has carved a niche as an undroppable right midfielder who creates, scores a few and puts in monumental shifts every game.
The chipped, floated Dirk cross is now a major weapon for Liverpool going forward and playing a centre forward as a right midfielder certainly gives some extra presence in the box.
And his blast against West Brom away shows that the Dutchman still does know how to find the net.
An admirable season's work for Kuyt. From being the first player most wanted to leave Anfield, he is now a must stay.

BIGGEST LET-DOWN

Ryan Babel

A big, big disappointment.
Ryan has quickly turned into a villain in many fans' eyes, not just because of his failure to produce, but because of an attitude which seems to say ' I couldn't give a toss.'
Blessed with obvious pace, and a booming shot, he never puts those talents to any effective use.
Criminally lacking in brains, the Dutchman likes to run straight at brick wall defences, and loves to shield the ball, only to be knocked off by players of Leon Osman-like stature.
It has been said he yearns to play up front, as oppose to the wing, but he's been given opportunities there too, and never taken them.
Goals against Man Utd and PSV away hardly masked a season of frustration, lack of effort and unwillingness.
An expensive mistake.

GOAL OF THE SEASON

Plenty of crackers from Gerrard - his second against Madrid, opener against Everton in the Anfield derby, and his swingingopener against PSV was a goal that defied belief.
Keane's away at Arsenal was a belter, but nothing beats Torres' opener at home to Blackburn.
Carragher's chip into the far corner of the box was unthreatening enough, but the way Torres brought it down on his chest, swivelled mid-air and hooked a dipping 25 yarder into the top corner, from an impossible angle, was Roy of the Rovers stuff.

PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON

The demolition of Madrid was special, but the Spaniards are always overhyped.
What was more impressive was Liverpool's destruction of Man Utd in their own backyard.
United went one up, but were dealt a body blow not once, not twice, not thrice, but four times by the Red men.
Gerrard and Torres had too much for the supposed best defenders in Europe. It should and could have been 6-1, after some glaring sitters were missed.
And Dossena bagged a pearler. Now, THAT'S when you know it's been one hell of a good day.

BIGGEST VILLAIN

Toss up between Drogba and Ferguson.

How muscular, strapping Drogba has not been shamed about his cheating, feigning injuries, moaning antics beggars belief.
A brute of a man, he writhes on the floor in agony after the merset shoulder barge. Behaviour to make his family proud?
A real shame to see this from a footballer with so much ability.Rolling back onto the pitch at Anfield, when supposedly 'injured' off it, to get the referee to stop the game, took the biscuit.

As for Whisky Nose, it seems his rivalry with Ferguson has reached its height. It all got a little 'kids in the playground' at times, particularly the Allardyce/Fergie ganging up to snitch on Rafa's meaningless hand gesture against Blackburn.
But it was right that someone took Ferguson to task for his constant manipulation of referees, ill-perceived injustices and general bad grace in post match interviews (granted Rafa is tarnished by the same brush on the third charge)
The 'Rafa's cracking up' chants were inevitable, but didn't in my book contribute to Liverpool's downturn in form after our trouncing of Newcastle 5-1.

CHANT OF THE SEASON.

The supposed prodigal Geordie son Alan Shearer sits in the Afield dugout as his team of ageing journeymen are outclassed by a hungry Liverpool side.
'Alan Shearer football geniuns!', rings out from the Kop. Cloesly followed by 'You should have stayed on the telly!'
Closely followed by 15,000 voices singing the Match of the Day ditty. All very amusing.
To be fair to Sheaer he took it well, even emerging onto the touchline with a wry smile towards the Kop.