---
title: "Sky Sports pundits tip Van Dijk for Player of the Year award"
canonical: "https://readliverpoolfc.com/news/sky-sports-pundits-tip-van-dijk-for-player-of-the-year-award/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Luke Osman"
section: "Liverpool News"
published: "2019-02-12T21:00:48Z"
modified: "2019-02-12T21:01:24Z"
---

# Sky Sports pundits tip Van Dijk for Player of the Year award

Four [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/18871/11631402/premier-league-player-of-the-year-so-far-the-soccer-saturday-pundits-pick-their-contenders) pundits have tipped Virgil van Dijk for the Premier League’s Player of the Year award.

Liverpool completed the signing of the Dutchman from Southampton days before the 2017 January transfer window opened, making him the world most expensive defender in a £75 million deal.

The 27-year-old was vital in the Reds’ strong second half of last season and has been even more impressive in the current campaign.

Van Dijk has been instrumental in Jurgen Klopp’s side’s rise to the very top of the Premier League table this term, helping them boast an outstanding defensive record.

![David Rogers/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2019/02/1074553740.jpg)

Numerous players have shone in the top-flight in recent months, but the Netherlands captain appears to have stood out, with Sky Sports pundits Paul Merson, Matt Le Tissier, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas all tipping him as one of the favourites for the Player of the Year award.

Merson said:

> Virgil van Dijk, he has been outstanding and played every minute of every Premier League game for Liverpool so far this season. He has been very, very good.

Le Tissier added:

> From Liverpool, you would have to put Virgil van Dijk in there, I think he has been immense.

![Richard Heathcote/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/readliverpoolfc/2019/02/1085484220.jpg)

Thompson stated:

> I think Virgil van Dijk has to be made Player of the Year. With Liverpool top of the league, it is real value for how he has played. He has been absolutely fantastic. If they can win the league, it will be one of the buys of the century, but he has been the most consistent.

Lastly, Nicholas said:

> Virgil van Dijk is definitely in the \[top\] three because of his contribution to Liverpool.

> This is why I am edging towards Van Dijk. He is smooth and stylish, the natural ingredients of a midfield player. It normally goes to the Premier League-winning side.