Virgil van Dijk has been crowned this season’s PFA Player of the Year.
Van Dijk becomes the second Liverpool player to win the accolade in the past 12 months and succeeds teammate Mohamed Salah, who won the 2017/18 award.
He saw off competition from a Manchester City trio spearheaded by Raheem Sterling as well as Chelsea’s Eden Hazard and Reds forward Sadio Mane.
The Holland captain becomes only the fourth defender to win the award in over 40 years.
Since sealing a £75 million move in December 2017, Van Dijk has become an integral figure for Liverpool as they continue to vie for the Premier League title.
His assured presence in defence has coincided in Jurgen Klopp’s side conceding just 20 league goals in their past 36 games and kept 20 clean sheets in that time.
“It’s unbelievable to win this award, voted by all the players you play against week in, week out, is fantastic,” said Van Dijk.
“I think it’s the highest honour you can get. I’m really proud.”
Anfield last boasted back-to-back PFA Players of the Year in 1984, when Ian Rush replaced strike partner Kenny Dalglish as the award holder.
The pair are one of eight different players to win the award, with Terry McDermott, John Barnes, Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez among them.
“I’m really proud it’s the second time in a row I can speak about a wonderful player who won the award for Player of the Season: Virgil van Dijk,” said Klopp.
“Who would have thought that when he started back in Holland? I think not everybody saw immediately what kind of player hides in this giant body.
“But now the whole world is aware of that and I’m really happy I can be a little bit around that development. I would love to think it’s because of me!
“But obviously it’s not, he was already the player he is now when we bought him from Southampton.
“It all worked out. From the first moment I was so excited about the opportunity to work together and now you are the man – at least for this season!”