DBasia.news – The £ 75 million official price Virgil van Dijk proved worthy of his great contribution to Liverpool. Recently, the 27-year-old defender received the PFA Premier League 2018-19 Best Player award.
Van Dijk was purchased by Jurgen Klopp from Southampton in January 2018. The cost of 75 million pounds made him the world’s most expensive defender. Although in the last half of the season his performance was not too visible, this season Van Dijk showed the reason that his price was worth it.
The product of the Groningen academy became Klopp’s mainstay at the heart of defense. His consistency and leadership spirit calmed Liverpool’s defense until they were still competing for the title in two competitions: Premier League and Champions League.
Van Dijk made 45 appearances in all competitions this season and scored five goals and gave four assists. The PFA, the Professional Footballers Association, gave Van Dijk 77.78 percent of the votes to make him the Best Premier League player this season.
Van Dijk beat other candidates like Raheem Sterling, Sadio Mane, Sergio Aguero, Bernardo Silva and Eden Hazard. While for the Best Young Player award was won by Sterling.
“It’s quite difficult to express in words. I think this is the highest award you can get as the chosen player is the result of voting the players you fight with every week. This is special. I am very proud and honored to receive it,” Van Dijk told Sky Sports.
Statistics Behind Van Dijk’s Great Performance
In the Premier League, Liverpool continued to maintain a distance of two points with Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title. While in the Champions League, Liverpool will face Barcelona, the winning team, in the semifinals.
Van Dijk’s role in maintaining the integrity of Liverpool’s back line quartet will be much needed by Klopp. Statistics have shown the reason why 25 caps and four goals with the Dutch national team are worthy of winning the Premier League Best Player award.
Van Dijk won 28 of 36 Premier League matches when he played – the most records among other defenders. In addition, he also recorded 20 clean sheets – the most in the Premier League – and won 77.03 percent of the ball fight duel.
But what makes it special is: Van Dijk can never be passed by an opponent when dueling one on one or when an opponent tries to dribble the ball past him.