Virgil Van Dijk has beaten the likes of Chelsea’s Eden Hazard, City’s duo of Aguero and Sterling and also Salah to win the English Premier League player of the year for 2018/2019 season.
The big Dutchman is receiving the Premier League Player of the Year award a few days after he was awarded this season’s PFA Player of the Year. He has had a fantastic season with his club, Liverpool.
Virgil Van Dijk was nominated alongside Sergio Aguero of Manchester City, Eden Hazard, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah, Bernardo Silva, and Raheem Sterling, all of whom have had a perfect season.
Virgil Van Dijk has featured in every Premier League match of Liverpool’s title-challenging campaign and has been a mainstay of the team during their progression to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Here are Virgil Van Dijk statistics that earned him the PFA and Premier League Player of the Year:
4,015 – Minutes played for Liverpool in all competitions this season – more than any other outfield player in the squad.
3,262 – Touches in the Premier League. Only Chelsea pair Jorginho (3,398) and Cesar Azpilicueta (3,276) have more.
3,205 – Minutes played in the Premier League this season, out of a maximum of 3,240.
2,847 – Passes made in the top flight. Only Jorginho has attempted more.
240 – Clearances made across all competitions – the most of any LFC player and more than double his nearest rival, Joel Matip (92)
193 – Clearances made in the Premier League – a top 10 ranking.
170 – Aerial battles won in the top flight – a top-five ranking.
108 – Headed clearances in the league – a top-five ranking.
88 – Total shots on target faced by Liverpool in the Premier League – only Manchester City are more miserly, with 79.
76.23 – per cent of aerial battles won by Van Dijk – the best in the Premier League (minimum of 150 aerials).
45 – Appearances for Liverpool this term from a possible 48 games.
34 – Games won across all competitions.
23 – Clean sheets in all competitions.
20 – Premier League goals conceded by Liverpool this season – fewer than any other team in the top flight.
5 – Number of outfield players in the Premier League with more minutes this season.
5 – Goals scored.
4 – Assists provided.
1 – Substitution.
0.56 – Average goals conceded by Liverpool per Premier League match – the best record in the top flight