Ardley puts Gerrard in a different class

Watford's Neal Ardley today paid tribute to Liverpool match winner Steven Gerrard, claiming he is the best player he has ever faced.

Ardley, 32, knows his last chance of reaching a major cup final rests with overturning Liverpool's 1-0 lead from last night's clash at Anfield.

But he admitted that against a side led by Gerrard, who scored Liverpool's second-half winner, it will be a tough call.

"He is absolute class," said Ardley. "I played against Liverpool four or five times when I was at Wimbledon but I never played against anyone as good as Gerrard. I'm proud to be English when we've got players like that."

He added: "If you had asked us before the game if we would have taken a 1-0 defeat, then we would have done.

"We limited their chances. We had a game plan. We sat in and didn't want them to pick us off. We were a bit disappointed not to get a better result.

"But we are upbeat. At Vicarage Road, with the crowd behind us, we have everything to play for. The tie is still alive and it is there for us to win." Ardley's contract at Vicarage Road runs out at the end of the season and he is determined to end his three-year spell at the club on a high.

"I've played in four semi-finals and lost them all, three for Wimbledon and one for Watford," said Ardley. "I'm 32 now and you start to wonder if you are ever going to play in a final.

"It's going to be a massive game at our place. They are obviously stronger than Southampton or Portsmouth, the sides we have knocked out. They played a strong side last night and I hope they play a strong side in the second leg."