The centre-back becomes the second Liverpool player in as many years to take the award, beating out a host of Manchester City stars
Virgil van Dijk has defeated Raheem Sterling to claim the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Player of the Year award.
Van Dijk beat out a host of Manchester City players aside from Sterling, including Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva, along with Reds team-mate Sadio Mane and Chelsea's Eden Hazard to the award, which is voted on by the members of the PFA.
The Netherlands international has proven to be worth every penny of the world-record fee for a defender Liverpool paid for him ahead of the January 2018 transfer window to snap him up from Southampton, as he has marshalled a back line that has conceded the fewest goals in the Premier League this season.
In addition to his defensive contributions, Van Dijk has chipped in with three goals and two assists this season for the Reds in the Premier League, while adding another two goals and two assists in the Champions League.
As a result, Liverpool find themselves in the hunt to win their first Premier League title, though the Reds trail City by a single point with just two games remaining for each side.
The Reds also are in the Champions League semi-final, where they will face Barcelona with the first leg to take place Wednesday at Camp Nou in hopes of making their second consecutive final in the competition.
The centre-back is the second Liverpool player to take the award in as many years, after Mohamed Salah was named winner in 2017-18.
All of the nominees were the award were among the PFA Team of the Year, where they were joined by Paul Pogba, Fernandinho, Andy Robertson, Aymeric Laporte, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ederson.
BraMonsterSarkCess
721
he truly deserves it.... 70% of the world is covered with water and 30% covered with Liverpool clean sheets because of this man
ubello29
602
35 appearances 19 clean sheets your deserved it
bayedame
533
well deserved
Desmondeyum
506
well deserved, the back bone of Liverpool defense, Without him Liverpool should have also be fighting for an Europa position, congratulations Van djick
JohnMc2018
481
Imagine getting 97 points, losing one game all season, having the Player of the Year in your team and still not winning a trophy πππ
Elmar13
458
Congratulations!!!! #GOAT
Mikerobz
428
Itβs good to see a defender get it to be honest. A lot of the times they go under the radar as attacking players are more glamorous due to the goal scoring record. But no club wins titles and trophyβs without having a good defence and Liverpool are looking good this year there defence has been out of this world and most of it goes to this man here so well done to him ππΌππΌππΌ
Bulgaria4305918
371
well deserved, Liverpool would've been at 7th place without this man
mickey00
235
if Liverpool wins the champions league; van dijk should be awarded the ballon d'or
Mikerobz
90
Good to see a defender beating all them attacking players that have done brilliant for there clubs just shows how good he really is, well done van dijk ππΌππΌππΌ
Hazardr
79
Virgil van Dijk is the first defender to be named PFA Men's Player's Player of the Year since John Terry in the 2004/05 season. Putting centre-backs back on the map. β
Bigmullar
76
Virgil Van Dijk deserve the award. he's done a great job in our back line and also giving other players confidence. they don't feel nervous anymore when the need to because, they know there's a leader at the back. congratulations VVD.
Goddred
76
I think sterling deserves it buh VVD has been upstanding this season Congrats
SalahManeFirmino109
74
Im honestly not surprised its well deserved to a person like him making a massive impact on our team. I mean think about? Without him do you reckon we could get in UCL final or semi final this season with out him? From the encouragement celebrating salah goal before he even scored to winning PFA. He's not only a good player but a good person. VVD best of the future mateπ
moratorium
70
Congratulations big man now hopefully you can win the league or the champions league with us this season end the season with a trophy πͺπ»
Olivekiss
40
So deserving ππππsuch a fantastic player and he is a Liverpool legend in the making π YNWA π€β₯οΈπ€