Lucas Leiva: Gerrard is one of the best ever

Lucas Leiva heaped praise on Steven Gerrard after the Liverpool captain began his long goodbye with a match-winning display at AFC Wimbledon.

Just days after confirming this would be his last season at Anfield, the 34-year-old led the Reds out at Kingsmeadow for what would prove a tough third-round clash.

Few expected Liverpool to come a cropper against the League Two side but, had it not been for Gerrard, an upset akin to Wimbledon's 1988 FA Cup final triumph against the Reds could have been witnessed.

Gerrard's early header was cancelled out by the Dons' giant striker Adebayo Akinfenwa, only for the Reds captain to brilliantly curl home a free-kick to secure a 2-1 victory.

It was the kind of display Lucas says highlights why Gerrard is "one of the biggest and best ever" - a tribute he paid to the Liverpool captain when after his exit was confirmed on Friday.