Respected journalist: Why Van Dijk is best POTY winner in 25 years

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Virgil van Dijk collected the PFA Player of the Year award last night, a just reward for a jaw-dropping season.

Raheem Sterling won the Writer’s version this morning, which although we do not agree with it – is a fair indication of his phenomenal campaign and the fact Manchester City are set to rack up 198 points over two seasons.

Still, van Dijk has for us and many others, been the stand-out footballer by some distance.

Miguel Delaney writes in the Independent that the Dutchman is the most deserving since Eric Cantona in 1993/94 – because of how much he’s changed Liverpool. 

Delaney is spot on. Sterling’s been exceptional – but we’d suggest City would still be title challengers without him.

Without van Dijk, Liverpool would simply not be competing for the title and the Champions League.

He is injected a calmness and and a consistency in our backline which has set the tone for the rest of the team.

Now, we don’t need to score four goals every week to win matches – one is usually enough – although the likes of Sadio Mane and Mo Salah usually have a penchant for a few more.

At 27, van Dijk is in his peak years and we can only see him going from strength to strength over the next four or five seasons.

We predict his £75m transfer fee will end up becoming one of the best bargains in Liverpool’s history.

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