Few could argue with the selection
Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk will be named the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year on Thursday, according to reports, receiving the backing of his contemporaries after a season of pure excellence in the Reds' backline.
The Dutch defender has been exceptional in the Liverpool defence all season, and has helped inspire Jurgen Klopp's side to their highest ever Premier League points tally while playing alongside a variety of centre-back partners, including Joel Matip, Dejan Lovren and Joe Gomez.
He has beaten off competition from Chelsea's Eden Hazard, Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva and his own teammate, Sadio Mane, to win the prize.
Van Dijk has been widely credited with providing the foundation - alongside another recent addition Alisson Becker - for the team's success this season, which has seen them continue to fight neck-and-neck for the title with Manchester City, as well as reach the Champions League semi-finals for the second consecutive season.
The 27-year-old has been a revelation since leaving Southampton for Liverpool in January 2018, and has brought a level of composure not seen in the club's defence for a number of years.
His winning of the award is recognition of the stability and quality of his performances, which has seen many pundits and critics label him the best defender in the world currently.
