“My family and friends come every time I play and everything I achieve in football they are a very big part of that because they are there for me 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“But the biggest thank yous have to go to the manager, the coaching staff and my team-mates.

“Individual awards are great but you don’t win them without great help from those people.”

Gerrard is the first Liverpool player since John Barnes in 1990 – the last time the Anfield outfit won the championship – to claim the honour.

All told, a Liverpool player has now won the award a record 11 times.

Barnes also won in 1988 while Kenny Dalglish was another two-time winner in 1979 and 1983, with Ian Callaghan (1974), Kevin Keegan (1976), Emlyn Hughes (1977), Terry McDermott (1980), Ian Rush (1984) and Steve Nicol (1989) also claiming the accolade.

Gerrard said he was honoured to be joining the ranks of some former greats at Anfield.

“It’s made even more special for me because I am following in the footsteps of Liverpool players like John Barnes, Steve Nicol and Kenny Dalglish who were heroes of mine,” he added.

“Then further back players like Ian Callaghan and Terry McDermott who were heroes to my dad and so many other Liverpool fans.”

Chairman of the Football Writers Association Steve Bates said: “Steven’s performances this season have been of the highest quality.

“His drive and desire have underpinned Liverpool’s Premier League title challenge and ensured a tight finish to the season.

“Steven is clearly in his prime and quite rightly rated one of the finest midfield players of his generation, and the FWA are delighted to honour his contribution to club and country.”