Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk was named as England’s PFA Player of the Year for 2019 on Sunday.
Van Dijk succeeded Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah in winning the award, voted for by his fellow players and saw off competition from Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling.
But Sterling, 24, was named the Professional Footballers’ Association Young Player of the Year, following on from City colleague Leroy Sane.
Van Dijk joined Liverpool from Southampton for £75 million ($97 million, 87 million euros) in January 2018.
The 27-year-old Dutchman has been an ever-present for Liverpool in their bid to dethrone City as Premier League champions this season, with Sterling’s side one point clear of the Reds at the top of the table with just two games left to play.
Van Dijk has starred in a hugely improved Liverpool defence that has kept 20 clean sheets and conceded a mere 20 goals in the current campaign.
Van Dijk has featured in every Premier League match of Liverpool’s title-challenging campaign and has been a mainstay of the team during their progression to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
The 27-year-old is only the sixth defender to be crowned the PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the award’s history, emulating Norman Hunter, Colin Todd, Gary Pallister, Paul McGrath and John Terry.
“It’s pretty difficult to put into words,” said Van Dijk, the first defender to win the award since Chelsea’s John Terry 14 years ago.
“I think it’s the highest honour you can get as a player to get voted player of the year by the players you play against every week. It’s special. I’m very proud and honoured to receive it.”
Van Dijk, who also has a Champions League semi-final against Barcelona to look forward to this week, added: “If you see the standard of strikers or playmakers we have in the league, it’s unbelievable.”
Here’s a look at some of the LFC No.4’s impressive facts and figures from the 2018-19 season so far…
4,015 – Minutes played for Liverpool in all competitions this season – more than any other outfield player in the squad.
3,262 – Touches in the Premier League. Only Chelsea pair Jorginho (3,398) and Cesar Azpilicueta (3,276) have more.
3,205 – Minutes played in the Premier League this season, out of a maximum of 3,240.
2,847 – Passes made in the top flight. Only Jorginho has attempted more.
240 – Clearances made across all competitions – the most of any LFC player and more than double his nearest rival, Joel Matip (92).
193 – Clearances made in the Premier League – a top 10 ranking.
170 – Aerial battles won in the top flight – a top five ranking.
108 – Headed clearances in the league – a top five ranking.
88 – Total shots on target faced by Liverpool in the Premier League – only Manchester City are more miserly, with 79.
76.23 – per cent of aerial battles won by Van Dijk – the best in the Premier League (minimum of 150 aerials).
45 – Appearances for Liverpool this term from a possible 48 games.
34 – Games won across all competitions.
23 – Clean sheets in all competitions.
20 – Premier League goals conceded by Liverpool this season – fewer than any other team in the top flight.
5 – Number of outfield players in the Premier League with more minutes this season.
5 – Goals scored.
4 – Assists provided.
1 – Substitution.
0.56 – Average goals conceded by Liverpool per Premier League match – the best record in the top flight.
Bellow is the official unveiling of the Dutchman as the PFA Player of the year
BOSS, @VirgilvDijk! 👏 #PFAawards pic.twitter.com/PvyBk8OKBN
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 28, 2019
Samson Oyedeyi
