Virgil van Dijk set to be named PFA Player of the Year

Virgil van Dijk is set to be named the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year for 2019, according to the Mail.

The Dutchman, who pipped Raheem Sterling to the accolade, has been a revelation at Liverpool this season following his £75million move from Southampton midway through the 2017-18 campaign.

An official announcement on Van Dijk’s win is expected on Friday, but MailOnline have confirmed that the Reds’ No.4 will claim the prize after winning the backing of his fellow players.

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Van Dijk was part of a six-man shortlist alongside Sadio Mane, Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Eden Hazard.

Surprisingly, Hazard wasn’t included in the PFA Team of the Year. The best XI was composed of Ederson, Aymeric Laporte, Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andy Robertson, Fernandinho, Paul Pogba, Bernardo Silva, Sadio Mane, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling.

Pogba’s inclusion at the expense of Hazard will have surprised many given his poor form for United for large swathes of the season.

Van Dijk, however, deserves every ounce of credit that comes his way after helping Liverpool keep 18 clean sheets in the league this season with his imperious performances in defence.

Mohamed Salah won the prize last season.

The post Virgil van Dijk set to be named PFA Player of the Year appeared first on AnfieldHQ.

Source: anfieldhq.com