Report: Van Dijk to win 2018-19 PFA Players' Player of the Year award

Liverpool center-back Virgil van Dijk is reportedly set to become the first defender since John Terry in 2004-05 to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award.

The Daily Mail's Matt Lawton reported that Van Dijk - the calming presence behind Liverpool's title challenge - has beaten fellow nominees Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Eden Hazard to the honor.

The official announcement will be made Thursday.

Championed as one of the best central defenders in world football, Van Dijk brought peace to Liverpool's rocky backline following his £75-million move from Southampton in January 2018. He's gone on to establish a strong partnership with Joel Matip, helping the Reds concede the fewest goals (20) among all Premier League sides.

The 27-year-old is also yet to be dribbled past in 35 Premier League appearances this season.

Van Dijk would join a select group of Liverpool players to take home the award, including Terry McDermott (1979-80), Kenny Dalglish (1982-83), Ian Rush (1983-84), John Barnes (1987-88), Steven Gerrard (2005-06), Luis Suarez (2013-14), and last year's winner, Mohamed Salah.

Sterling was considered Van Dijk's greatest challenger but reportedly fell just short of the individual prize. He's directly contributed to 26 Premier League goals for Manchester City in the current campaign.

However, the 24-year-old is still a strong favorite to be named the 2018-19 Young Player of the Year. Silva, Marcus Rashford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, David Brooks, and Declan Rice are also contenders for the distinction.