Clean sheets, goals and plaudits: Van Dijk’s award-winning February
Virgil van Dijk’s status as a front-runner for all manner of end-of-season awards was enhanced by his imperious form in February.
The centre-back was named Liverpool’s Standard Chartered Player of the Month on Thursday - 72 hours after he won the PFA Fans’ Player of the Month prize.
His four appearances in February elicited three clean sheets, two goals and lofty praise from a teammate and an illustrious predecessor in the No.4 shirt he now calls his own.
“For me, he's the best centre-back just now in the world,” was Andy Robertson’s assessment after Van Dijk capped the Reds’ 5-0 win over Watford last week with a late headed double.
Earlier in February, Sami Hyypia labelled the Netherlands captain ‘an ultimate centre-back’.
“It is very difficult to find a weakness... it would be a pleasure to play alongside him he is so good,” said the Champions League-winning defender.
That aforementioned victory over the Hornets followed successive Premier League shutouts against Bournemouth and Manchester United, and Robertson believes Van Dijk should be crowned PFA Player of the Year by his peers.
“If the season ended tonight, I would give him it personally,” the left-back stated following the Watford game.
The man himself, though, is more interested in coming out on top in a gripping Premier League title race.
“I want to focus on achieving something special, which this club hasn’t done for 29 years, and if either myself or any other players are involved in picking up individual awards, that’s great,” Van Dijk told FourFourTwo magazine.
“Winning the league makes you feel even more proud of yourself and the team. It’s a sign of the hard work you’ve put in over a whole season.
“That motivates you. Winning the Premier League title puts you in the history books forever and makes you a legend. That’s why you play football. You want to become a legend.”