Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane has been named the Premier League's Player of the Month for a sixth time, equalling the record set by Steven Gerrard.
Kane scored eight league goals in December, including a brace against Stoke and hat tricks in wins against Burnley and Southampton, to break Alan Shearer's Premier League record for goals in a calendar year (39) and overtake Barcelona's Lionel Messi for the most goals for club and country by any player in Europe's major leagues in 2017 (56).
The 24-year-old said of matching former Liverpool and England captain Gerrard's haul: "It's amazing, very proud of that.
"I'd probably say my favourite goal was the one that broke the [calendar year] record against Southampton.
"Obviously there's a lot of talk before the game about whether I'd do it or not so to get that goal early on in the game as well, it was a great achievement."
8⃣ goals in December
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 12, 2018
1⃣ @premierleague record
6⃣ Player of the Month awards
🗣️ @HKane reflects on a memorable December and another @premierleague Player of the Month award: #OneOfOurOwn pic.twitter.com/BGylBYBcOu
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola was named the Premier League Manager of the Month for December to become the first coach ever to win the award four months in a row.
Jermain Defoe picked up the Goal of the Month award for his effort during Bournemouth's 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace.
Defoe, 35, said his strike against Palace ranked alongside his best efforts.
✅ #PL Goal of the Month #JD18 pic.twitter.com/HSd60ZZxOc
— Jermain Defoe (@IAmJermainDefoe) January 12, 2018
"It was instinctive and to be honest I don't know why I shot from there," he said. "I had a little glimpse of the goalkeeper just out of position and I wanted to direct it back across goal.
"Sometimes you try things and they come off. I was surprised myself. It's up there as one of my best goals."