Echo: Three gongs for Reds at awards

Liverpool elebrated a trio of awards at the North West Football Awards on Monday night.

Reds defender Martin Skrtel picked up the Premier League player of the year gong, whilst youngster Martin Kelly was named as the region's "Rising Star".

The club and Standard Chartered also picked up the Corporate Social Responsibility Campaign of the Year prize for their "Seeing is Believing" drive, while there was a touching tribute to the Hillsborough Family Support Group, which prompted a standing ovation from the hundreds of guests, who had gathered at Lancashire CCC.

Skrtel, named as the Reds' Player of the Year last season, held off competition from Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia to win his award.

Kelly saw off the likes of Nick Powell (Crewe Alexandra, now at Manchester United), Mats Daehli (Manchester United), Tom Ince (Blackpool), Apostolos Vellios (Everton) and Denis Suarez (Manchester City) in the Rising Star category.

"It's a real honour to receive this award. Huge thanks goes to all LFC fans who voted. I'm working hard to get fit and when I'm back I will continue to do you proud," said Kelly.

Reds striker Luis Suarez, meanwhile, missed out in the Goal of the Season category. His sensational long-range lob against Norwich back in April was beaten by Sergio Aguero's Premier League clinching strike against QPR.

Source: Liverpool Echo