Liverpool star Virgil van Dijk pips Man City ace Raheem Sterling to PFA Player of the Year

Van Dijk becomes the first defender to win the coveted award since John Terry who won it while at Chelsea in 2005.

The Dutchman has been a revelation since joining the club from Southampton in a record-breaking £75million deal in January last year.

His presence at the back has helped Liverpool create the meanest defence in the Premier League as they go in search of a first league title since 1990.

Van Dijk fought off stiff competition from Manchester City winger Sterling for the main award – voted for by fellow professional footballers – after his own superb campaign at the Etihad.

Sterling’s City have the edge in what might be the most exciting title race of the Premier League era but Van Dijk has beaten him to the biggest individual honour of the season.

And it means Liverpool players have now won back-to-back awards after Mohamed Salah picked up the gong last season.

With Van Dijk at the heart of defence, Liverpool have kept a Premier League-high 20 clean sheets in 2018-19 and was the big favorite in the build-up to the ceremony.

Van Dijk was delighted to be recognised by his fellow pros.

“It’s pretty difficult to put into words,” he said.

“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 also took time to praise Liverpool defenders Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson who were anded alongside him in the PFA Tem of the Year.

“It’s great to get recognition from other players. Defending is as important as attacking, and obviously tonight we have Trent [Alexander-Arnold] and Robbo [Andrew Robertson] here as well.

“I try to play my game, read the game as well as I can. I don’t want to get in difficult situations so I let Robbo do the work.

“I like playing for Liverpool, I love playing for Liverpool, and I’m proud to wear the shirt.”

Sterling was not at the ceremony to collect his award after helping City to a 1-0 win over Burnley earlier in the day.

However, he addressed the crowd in London via through a video message and thanked his fellow players for voting for him.

“Hi guys Raheem here,” he said. “Sorry I can’t make it down, It’s a lovely honour to win this award and I want to say thank you to my fellow professionals who have voted for me.”

Arsenal’s Vivianne Miedema picked up the women’s award and Sterling’s Man City colleague Georgia Stanway the young women’s trophy.

Man City captain Steph Houghton picked up the PFA Merit Award.

source: express.co.uk