Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has praised the contribution of Steven Gerrard to the club.
The midfielder is set to make his 500th appearance for the team he supported as a boy when he leads Liverpool out in their clash against Blackburn.
He will become only the 13th player to reach for the milestone for the Anfield club and Benitez believes his captain can make a further 200 appearances at the highest level in a Liverpool shirt.
"To reach 500 games for one club is remarkable," Benitez said. "Usually good players don't stay with one club. Bigger clubs with more money tempt them away.
"He is certainly one of the very best players I have ever worked with. When I was at Real Madrid I worked with people like Raul and many other very good players who did very well in the first team.
"Like them, Stevie is known as a top-class player all around the world."
Benitez also applauded the commitment of his lynchpin midfielder, having seen Gerrard remain at the club despite nearly being tempted away by a big-money move to Chelsea in 2005.
The 29-year-old has spent 11 years on Merseyside, and has established himself as a Kop favourite for his all-action and often matching-saving displays.
And Benitez recognised the dynamic style Gerrard brings to the team.
He added: "To play 500 games is a massive achievement for any player, especially at the same club.
"He has reached this stage by showing the same passion and commitment for many years. His loyalty to Liverpool is to be praised, few players do what he has done for his local club.
"Steven is a key player for us, the kind of player that can make a difference in a game.
"We have some important players but Stevie is one of those that, when he is playing well, the team can win any game.
"It doesn't matter if the other players aren't playing well, he can win a game for you with one special moment."
Liverpool have endured a difficult season to date, and will be without Fernando Torres for the trip to Ewood Park.
The Reds have not won the league since 1990, and despite success in domestic and European cups, the Premier League crown is the trophy Liverpool fans crave.
Their title charge has stumbled though, and they lie 13-points shy of leaders Chelsea.
But Benitez said Gerrard can win more silverware with the club and would go down as "one of the best players in history" - if he can maintain current levels of fitness.
"You cannot win trophies with just one player, you need a team behind that player," Benitez explained. "But if you have a good team, players like Gerrard can make the difference.
"He has won a lot already in his career, but if we can win even more trophies with him he will go down as one of the best players in history.
"He is at a good age and is very professional. If we can keep him fit he can still play another 200 or more games for this club, hopefully at the same level he has shown for many years now."
Ian Callaghan holds the all-time Liverpool record of 857 games and that is unlikely to be beaten by Gerrard, but he is now just 20 short of Kenny Dalglish's tally for the club.
And the Liverpool manager highlighted Gerrard's hunger as the driving force behind his success, as well as his willingness to learn.
"He's set very high standards but, of course, cannot play at the same level all the time," he said. "That is why he needs the team to be playing well with him.
"He has learned under different managers but for the past five years we have been talking a lot about different parts of his game and how he could improve.
"He has always been willing to learn. He is always learning and knows the game much better now than when I first came to the club."
The midfielder is set to make his 500th appearance for the team he supported as a boy when he leads Liverpool out in their clash against Blackburn.
He will become only the 13th player to reach for the milestone for the Anfield club and Benitez believes his captain can make a further 200 appearances at the highest level in a Liverpool shirt.
"To reach 500 games for one club is remarkable," Benitez said. "Usually good players don't stay with one club. Bigger clubs with more money tempt them away.
"He is certainly one of the very best players I have ever worked with. When I was at Real Madrid I worked with people like Raul and many other very good players who did very well in the first team.
"Like them, Stevie is known as a top-class player all around the world."
Benitez also applauded the commitment of his lynchpin midfielder, having seen Gerrard remain at the club despite nearly being tempted away by a big-money move to Chelsea in 2005.
The 29-year-old has spent 11 years on Merseyside, and has established himself as a Kop favourite for his all-action and often matching-saving displays.
And Benitez recognised the dynamic style Gerrard brings to the team.
He added: "To play 500 games is a massive achievement for any player, especially at the same club.
"He has reached this stage by showing the same passion and commitment for many years. His loyalty to Liverpool is to be praised, few players do what he has done for his local club.
"Steven is a key player for us, the kind of player that can make a difference in a game.
"We have some important players but Stevie is one of those that, when he is playing well, the team can win any game.
"It doesn't matter if the other players aren't playing well, he can win a game for you with one special moment."
Liverpool have endured a difficult season to date, and will be without Fernando Torres for the trip to Ewood Park.
The Reds have not won the league since 1990, and despite success in domestic and European cups, the Premier League crown is the trophy Liverpool fans crave.
Their title charge has stumbled though, and they lie 13-points shy of leaders Chelsea.
But Benitez said Gerrard can win more silverware with the club and would go down as "one of the best players in history" - if he can maintain current levels of fitness.
"You cannot win trophies with just one player, you need a team behind that player," Benitez explained. "But if you have a good team, players like Gerrard can make the difference.
"He has won a lot already in his career, but if we can win even more trophies with him he will go down as one of the best players in history.
"He is at a good age and is very professional. If we can keep him fit he can still play another 200 or more games for this club, hopefully at the same level he has shown for many years now."
Ian Callaghan holds the all-time Liverpool record of 857 games and that is unlikely to be beaten by Gerrard, but he is now just 20 short of Kenny Dalglish's tally for the club.
And the Liverpool manager highlighted Gerrard's hunger as the driving force behind his success, as well as his willingness to learn.
"He's set very high standards but, of course, cannot play at the same level all the time," he said. "That is why he needs the team to be playing well with him.
"He has learned under different managers but for the past five years we have been talking a lot about different parts of his game and how he could improve.
"He has always been willing to learn. He is always learning and knows the game much better now than when I first came to the club."
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