Andy Robertson insists captain Jordan Henderson was forced to live with the spectre of Steven Gerrard in dragging Liverpool to the Premier League title.
The midfielder took on the unenviable task of taking the armband from the Anfield icon following his departure in 2015.
Rangers boss Gerrard remains of the club's all-time greats but ended his Merseyside career without capturing a league title.
Henderson faced major early doubts over whether he could fill the void left by his predecessor but has since become a hugely influential figure.
And now, after adding a Premier League medal to his Champions League success, Robertson believes Henderson has overcome a massive psychological hurdle.
"Hendo represents us all," the Scotland captain told talkSPORT.
"He's so consistent, he drives us on every single day in training, whether he thinks we're getting slack in training - it's not happened many times but when it does he's the one to pick it up and make sure it's sorted there and then.
"The guy's been unbelievable this season, he deserves player of the year in my opinion, with what he's done in driving our team to success.
"Last season when he lifted the Champions League trophy above his head, somebody that was pretty close to him was pretty emotional.
"It'll be emotional again when he lifts the Premier League trophy.
"It was tough for him taking over Steven Gerrard's captain's armband, it was never going to be easy.
"He maybe came under a bit of unfair criticism at the start because of it, but now he's shown what we saw in him all the time.
"It's unbelievable and it'll be emotional for all of us to see him lifting the trophy above his head."
Robertson is humbled taking his place among the club's greats, especially, as he sees it, considering how many tried and failed to win the ultimate domestic prize.
He added: "We wanted to write our own history, that was what the gaffer said when he came in the door.
"I think we're starting to do that pretty well.
"The names mentioned, Stevie, Carra and others... there's so many good players that have played for Liverpool that haven't quite managed it.
"It touches on a generation that missed out on Liverpool winning the league and it was about time we put that right.
"Luckily, we've done that and now it's about adding to that - making it the second title, the third title and hopefully we can do that in a space of time.
"But we won't be thinking about that until next season."
