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Virgil van Dijk Reveals He Voted For Main Rival Raheem Sterling In POTY Vote

Virgil van Dijk Reveals He Voted For Main Rival Raheem Sterling In POTY Vote

It has also been revealed who Sterling voted for.

Jack Kenmare

Jack Kenmare

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been many people's PFA Player of the Year following a stellar 2018/19 campaign under Jurgen Klopp.

Not only has he proved himself as one of the best defenders in world football on the pitch, but his latest gesture off it has won him plenty of plaudits.

It has been revealed by van Dijk himself that the Dutchman has voted for arguably his main rivals, Raheem Sterling, for the coveted Player of the Year prize at the end of the season:

"I did what I thought and I thought he (Sterling) deserves it," said Van Dijk via The Telegraph.

"He's had a fantastic season. I think I could have voted for Bernardo Silva as well and another couple of players from Manchester City. But I am just being honest. I think he has improved a lot as a player. We will see if he wins it."

Van Dijk heads home the fifth for Liverpool. Image: PA Images
Van Dijk heads home the fifth for Liverpool. Image: PA Images

Van Dijk and his teammates are currently challenging for both Premier League and Champions League titles, and so is Sterling, who has contributed 19 goals under Pep Guardiola this season.

The England international is another favourite to scoop the gong after his performances on and off the pitch, but as revealed by BT Sport, the 24-year-old didn't vote for his main rival.

Sterling admitted that he voted for Tottenham striker Harry Kane as we edge towards the end of the season.

Raheem Sterling revealed he voted for Harry Kane. Image: PA
Raheem Sterling revealed he voted for Harry Kane. Image: PA

Van Dijk did say he would be proud to receive the accolade but a Champions League or Premier League title win would mean more:

"Of course, you're going to be proud, but all the hard work in the training ground - that is something we all did together to win something as a team, a collective thing as a club," he said.

"Hopefully that is something that will happen."

Sky pundit Gary Neville has given his full backing to van Dijk for the POTY prize, saying he "does the job of all four defenders,":

"Van Dijk has been absolutely outstanding,' he said on Sky Sports last week.

"I remember looking back through my career at players like Jaap Stam, Gary Pallister, Rio Ferdinand... He (Van Dijk) is a player who makes everyone feel safe.

"He does the job of all four defenders. I think Sergio Ramos and Varane have been the best defenders in the world recently but there's no doubt he will be up there.

"He can head, his defending is brilliant, on the ball he's a joke. He passes the ball like a midfielder. One hundred per cent he is the player of the year. I don't think anybody has even got close to him."

Salah won the PFA Player of the Year award last season. Image: PA
Salah won the PFA Player of the Year award last season. Image: PA

Who do you think deserves the PFA Player of the Year gong?

Let us know in the comments below.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Liverpool, Player Of The Year, Pep Guardiola, PFA, Premier League, Man City, Virgil Van Dijk, Jurgen Klopp, Champions League, Raheem Sterling

Jack Kenmare is a writer at SPORTbible. He's interviewed some of the biggest names in sport, including Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Pele, Carles Puyol and Tim Henman. He dabbles in all things sport but football is his biggest passion. He was once hit in the head by a wayward strike from Nicky Butt and lived to tell the tale.

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