Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has been crowned PFA Players' Player of the Year.
The commanding Dutch centre-back received the award at London's Grosvenor House Hotel after beating Manchester City's Raheem Sterling to the prestigious personal accolade.
With Van Dijk following in the footsteps of 2017/18 winner Mohamed Salah , it's the first time the trophy has been won by Reds players in two successive seasons for 35 years.
Ian Rush collected it in 1984 – 12 months after fellow Kop legend Kenny Dalglish had also been recognised by his peers.
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It's reward for the inspirational role Van Dijk has played in Liverpool's thrilling challenge for the Premier League title . He is only the sixth defender to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year dating back to 1974 and the first since Chelsea's John Terry in 2005.
Van Dijk has been ever present for Jurgen Klopp's side in the top-flight this season and has helped the Reds keep a remarkable 20 clean sheets in 36 league matches. They boast the best defensive record in the Premier League with just 20 goals conceded.
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The 27-year-old has lived up to all the hype that accompanied his £75million move to Anfield from Southampton in January 2018 – a world record fee for a defender.
He has transformed the Reds' backline and put them in contention to win the biggest prizes.
With two league games to go, Liverpool find themselves just a single point behind Manchester City . They are also in the semi-finals of the Champions League with Barcelona lying in wait at the Nou Camp on Wednesday night.
As well as receiving more votes than nearest rival Sterling, Van Dijk also beat off competition from team-mate Sadio Mane, Chelsea's Eden Hazard and City duo Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva, who were also named on the six-man shortlist.
