Liverpool stalwart Van Dijk named PFA Player of the Year

The Premier League finally showed some love to a defender.

Liverpool anchor Virgil van Dijk was named PFA Players' Player of the Year on Sunday. It's the first time a striker or midfielder hasn't claimed the league's top individual honor since Chelsea icon John Terry took home the prize in 2004-05.

Van Dijk, 27, beat out fellow nominees Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero, and Eden Hazard for the award, which is voted on by the players.

"It's pretty difficult to put into words," Van Dijk said.

"I think it's the highest honor 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 honored to receive it."

It was always going to take a virtuoso season-long performance for a defensively oriented player - particularly a center-back - to garner this type of recognition, and that's precisely what the Anfield favorite has delivered.

An indispensable force for Jurgen Klopp since making a £75-million move from Southampton in January of 2018, Van Dijk has been instrumental in transforming the Reds into the Premier League's stingiest side; Liverpool have conceded a league-best 20 goals through 36 matches this season.

The towering defender, who has also chipped in with three goals at the other end, becomes the eighth Liverpool player to get his hands on the coveted hardware. He joins 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 Mohamed Salah, last year's winner.

Liverpool may ultimately concede the league title to Manchester City, but Van Dijk has done everything in his power - and then some - to deliver a first Premier League crown to the Merseyside club.