VIRGIL VAN DIJK lauded Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s impact on his development after winning the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award.
Liverpool defender Van Dijk claimed the top prize at Sunday’s event in London, edging out team-mate Sadio Mane, Chelsea star Eden Hazard and Manchester City trio Bernardo Silva, Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling – who won the Young Player of the Year award.
Van Dijk has been in towering form for the Reds – who he joined from Southampton in January 2018 – this season, helping Klopp’s side to 20 clean sheets in the Premier League, scoring three goals.
And the Dutchman thanked Klopp for helping to develop his career, as he became the first defender to win the award since John Terry in 2005.
“He’s helped a lot. Obviously he made sure that I can play for Liverpool together with the guys behind the scenes,” Van Dijk said.
“He is a fantastic manager and also a fantastic human being, and I think that really helps the club. He is there also to get at us basically when we need it as well.
“It’s unbelievable. To win this award, voted by players you play against week in week out. It’s the highest honour you can get, so I’m really proud
“It’s great to get recognition from other players. Defending is as important as attacking and this year we’ve been doing brilliantly with the boys. It’s been a good season, we’ll see how it ends.
“I try to read the game as well as I can. I don’t want to overcommit in dangerous situations so I let Robbo [Andy Robertson] do the work! I love playing for Liverpool, I am proud to wear the shirt.”
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah won the same award last year, and Klopp was delighted to be celebrating one of his players winning the prize once again.
“I am really proud for the second year in a row that I can speak about a wonderful player winning the Player of the Year,” Klopp said.
“Virgil van Dijk, who would have thought that when he started back in Holland! Everybody saw immediately what kind of player hides in that giant body.
“I am really happy that I can be a little bit around that development. I would love to think it’s because of me, but obviously it’s not!”
Liverpool face Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, and round off their Premier League season with games against Newcastle United and Wolves.
Subscribe to our new podcast, The42 Rugby Weekly, here:
Never in any doubt.. he’s been impressive
Very deserved
Van Dijk deserved it. Take out Sterling and City still win the league. Salah and Mane both have more goals anyway and have more of an impact
Nice to see a defender win it, think Paul McGrath and JT only ones to win it before
@Daithí Mac Craith: Gary Pallister too
Wrong decision I’m afraid, Sterling has had more of an impact.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: As a city fan your the most biased fan ever van dijk deserved it way more even a blind man could see it
@Hirving Lozano: Not a hope, Sterling deserved that award he has been immense this year and he is going to win his team the title having been 7 down in January. Your no city fan.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ah no. City without sterling would still be where they are now. Liverpool without van dijk would be at least 15 points behind city. Fully deserved
@aidan mccormack: Take off the blinkers, Sterling was instrumental in City being where they are today. He has been a beast this year. I’m not saying Van Dyke isn’t great but he went missing in the game in January when they cudda sealed the deal and that was unforgivable. That’s just my opinion though.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: I’ve watched every city game Bernardo silva is our player of the season not sterling if Bernardo was English he would have won
@Hirving Lozano: Virgil Van Dyke is not English so there’s that argument gone.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: https://www.the42.ie/liverpool-bayern-munich-report-champions-league-first-leg-knockout-stages-4501887-Feb2019/
You were an Everton fan back then tony lad
@themansam: Lol, poor Samantha, I know things are tough for you at the moment but with a little bit time I can assure you that they won’t get easier because I’ll never let you forget what happened this year. No league’s won in January buddy.
@themansam: great recon lad
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ya but look at his impact
@Anthony Shoulderhead: so just to quote this again Anto from that link “ I’m not a united fan I’m a toffee “ fookin gas , delete ur profile u muppet pretending to be a city fan Just cause of ur jealously of the reds been a toffee , that’s all
@Anthony Shoulderhead: Sterling doesn’t deserve it salah has 21 goals 8 assists and not nominated sterling has 17 goals 9 assists and your giving out if mignonette was in goal for Liverpool it would be ok as Van dijk is a wall
@Who ate all Depays: mignolet
@Anthony Shoulderhead: hilarious! Neither are you Tony. Everton supporter all the way! You might just address that little slip up once and for all bud.
@Declan g: Hahahaha, gud man Dec. Can you not get that sour taste out of your mouth lol
@Brendan: BRENNER IS STILL SICK AS A PARROT TODAY. Good jasus, I would hate to be feeling like you. Sunday ruined yesterday, whole mine was a celebration down in the pub.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: the biggest clown on here tony stackers. Worse than a plastic fan “if” you are a city fan. Couldn’t support your team no matter what! Lesson for the day Antonia, be true to yourself
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ah Tony, god love you, celebrating a nil all draw with Crystal Palace, that’s a bit sad. Don’t worry kid, the red side of Liverpool are keeping the flag flying for the city.
@Declan g: ah it’s an old article, when I put it to him when he came out as a city fan we all laughed at him
@themansam: ah sure he’s mildly entertaining some of the time is old Tony. Feel a bit sorry for him, not much going on I’d say.
@Brendan: very little I’d imagine bless his lil socks but if you can’t support your club no matter what then what’s he on about?
@Anthony Shoulderhead: not sick at all lad , City more then likely win the league n u know wat they deserve it if they do n I’ll applaud them if they do , they play a serious brand of football that I like to watch , I’ve no hatred for them , it’s clowns like u spurting garbage out of ur mouth n u don’t even follow city , ur just a pool hater , n dats fine but having to lie about the club u support is embarrassing? Have u anything to say about that quote u said Anto? Or are u gonna brush it aside like u always do spurting garbage
@themansam: You have to admire or cringe at his persistence. His game has been up for a while now but he he continues to ignore that. I find it very strange. God if city dropped points you would never see ‘Anthony shoulderhead’ again. But I would think you would see another profile next year supporting whoever is on top.
@Declan g: here here. I’m trying to get him to address it for months now. His usual response is along the lines of. Ahhhh dry your eyes or something about being salty. He is a f×cktard.
@Seaniecp: exactly. But the thing is if he was a genuine fan going on like this it’d be grand, annoying but grand. This Manchester born business stacker is simply a Liverpool hater end off
@themansam: yeah. I was glancing over one of the United articles yesterday. And there was a decent thread of football related opinions from their fans. It was refreshing. I’m afraid that’s impossible for us to do. With the likes of shoulderhead and Co with their toxic garbage on every Liverpool related article. Just parroting the same b×llocks over and over…
@Seaniecp: only answer really is to ignore the guy. Hard to do I know, but given no attention he will eventually get bored
@Seaniecp: yeah I know. But it’s all the Chelsea/united lads who are now city fans all over these threads
@Declan g: Hahahahaha, the lads are all hurting really bad… And I don’t blame them. We brushed you aside this season and you will likely never recover from this with the limited resources that you have.. Its sweet as a nut for me though after all the stick you were giving in January. Lads all walking around with their chests out with one had on the EPL…. Eh I don’t think so, the prize isn’t given out until May lads and we will be taking it… Its sad now the level of deflection you boys are engaging in now.
@themansam: Born and reared in city, the club I have supported since I was a tot. The lads can’t digest that though, pathetic deflector brigade.
@Michael Mullins: Hahaha, will I direct you towards the ignore button. Its the usual reaction alright for the Liverpool ilk. The toys get thrown from the pram
@Declan g: Declan, you are only letting yourself down acting the way you are. Its awful carry on really that you are resorting to deflection instead of sticking to the article at hand. If you can’t stick to commenting on the article you should perhaps take a break from posting. Attacking people helps No one.
@Brendan: Oh don’t feel sorry for me Brendan, I’m fine with the current position. You are clearly feeling sorry for yourself though, evidenced from your posts..
@themansam: I do support my club Samantha, Manchester City. You on the other hand support a club from a different country and you turn your back on the LOI, now that’s pathetic. I even attend some LOI matches…
@Seaniecp: Stay classy Sean.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: but deny or won’t say or say you’re a fan of a different club. It’s not a very “through & through” attitude to have though Tony.
I’m a Liverpool fan & a fan of Dublin GAA, I get stick wherever I go pal, but it’s never ever stopped me pinning my colours to the mast. I actually don’t know anyone (since primary school anyway) that’s done what you have pal. Shocking bad form to turn your back on your club & city buddy boy. Shocking bad
It’s also hilarious that you keep using the word “deflection”
Did you or did you not say you were an Everton fan in this article
https://www.the42.ie/liverpool-bayern-munich-report-champions-league-first-leg-knockout-stages-4501887-Feb2019/
@themansam: Samantha, in all fairness do I need to tell you or your cronies anything about myself or answer any of your questions? If I did, I would only be setting myself up for abuse now wouldn’t I. Use your noggin lad. And fyi I never turned my back on city, I will love them til I die. I lived less than 2km from the stadium. You can’t say that about your team though.
@themansam: Your fingers must be getting sore posting that link over and over samantha love. You turned your back on your local club to support a club in England. What does that say about you… Is it any wonder why the LOI has not progressed. Don’t worry though, I’ll keep supporting it on your behalf. Its people like you that give out about the state of the Irish international team aswell – hypocrites
@Anthony Shoulderhead: but tony you did turn your back on your city & your club. Your post on the article is there for all to see pal. Like I said we all get abuse over the teams we support. Everyone I know would never do what you did. Turning your back, or no where to be seen when your team gets knocked out of the Champions League, as I said isn’t very “born & bred”, or “till I die” is it
@Anthony Shoulderhead: this keeps getting better and better Tony. You’re starting to get emotional now kid. Can’t keep all your profiles and stories going and it’s starting to get a bit overwhelming isn’t it? Take some time off mate, you’ll be fine in a couple of weeks.
@Brendan: Dear Brendan, I’m fine now. My team have won the league mate. Lol
@themansam: Samantha, I was working abroad when city were knocked out of Europe, I told you that buddy. I can’t be on the 42 every single day now can I, my life doesn’t revolve around footie much and all as I love it. “EVERYONE I KNOW”, you mean your nan and your dog. You clearly don’t have friends Sam, everyone knows this.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: you’re absolutely right kid, back in 1986/87, Howard Kendall was the manager, I remember it well. Fine team. I’m a bit worried about you, you should talk to someone if this is all getting a bit much for you.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ah tony tony tony, but you did comment that night. “great comeback” after City scored a few, then you were gone pal. do you want me to post that link too?
now, its time to repeat the lesson of the day. be TRUE to yourself. as clearly you cant with everyone else
@Brendan: Lol, Howard Kendall never managed city lad, you must have your facts wrong. Also, our last league win was 17/18. Well if you are discounting this year’s one that is.
@themansam: Yeah Samantha, sure you might as well post that link aswell. Go on. I was on the runway at that stage lad. As far as I’m aware there is no signal at 30 thousand feet. I could be wrong though so if you have a link for that too you should post it.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: you are just making this tooooooo easy Antonia,
Howard Kendall managed Manchester City in the old first divison. you like before the premier league era. a quick google will show you that you absolute spoofer
6the Dec 1989 – 5th November 1990. ironically he left to manage your club, Everton
@themansam: ah Sam, you should have left me have my moment! I set the lad up for that and he fell for it hook line and sinker, City fan all his life….. ha ha ha
@Anthony Shoulderhead: Tone, Sam has already pulled the trigger on you. You fell right into kid like I knew you would. City all your life???? You’re the gift that keeps on giving fella, nice one.
@Brendan: my sincere apologies Brendan, it’s just he put the hand out so fast I just had to. I’m sure you’ll get him again, he’s born & bred City. He knows his stuff
@Brendan: I feel obliged to stick up for Tony Stacker here; he only started following City in February of this year, how was he supposed to know any of their managers from the 80s, 90s, 00s…
@themansam: no bother Sam, he’s a little beaut, unbelievably gullible.
@Brendan: an actual quote from Kendall, “City was my affair, Everton was my marriage” it’s Tony Stackers all over
@themansam: he’s gone all shy now!
@Brendan: you’re right, the gift that just keeps giving. He’s priceless & fair play to you sir
@themansam: ah sure, it wasn’t particularly difficult now to be fair, he’s a bit entertaining now and then but not really the sharpest tool in the box is he.
@Brendan: well he’s a tool in his box now anyway
@themansam: Hahahahha, just keeping you lads on yer toes, the aul double bluff gets em every time….HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. I swear to god lads, yea are priceless. Yis wud swallow a brick. I mean it’s literally too easy. You are fully triggered from yesterday and its only gonna get worse after the last 2 games. Lol
@Brendan: hook, line, sinker lol. I’m loving this.
@The Bloody Nine: You and your buddies literally lap up everything I post, You are becoming obsessed so thanks for that fan boys. And we have an unbelievable few weeks ahead.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: nah, you’re burned Tony, smell of desperation off you now kid. Take your medicine and move on, you got owned and you know it. I’m done with you now mate, it’s been a blast but the better man won. Cheerio.
@Brendan: Ahhh there goes BRENNER, just like the other 20 pool fans behind him that tried to silence me only to realise that he’s been played like a fiddle. I know everything about city you tool, but it’s sooo good to play you 3. The 3 amigos that swallow bricks…. BBB (Bye bye Brendan) lol
@Brendan: nice one pal, you just shut down the biggest mouth on here. You got completely shown up Anthony, take it on the chin before you embarrass yourself further.
@Brendan: well done pal, you nailed the biggest mouthpiece on here. Anthony you got shown up, take it on the chin before you embarrass yourself any more.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: lapping up that you turned on your “city & club” that’s the issue here plastic boy. Laugh all you want, when you had the chance you bottled it. City till I die he says, except on the 42 where you run your gob
@Brian Boru: Ahhh here’s another one, hello sir. Jasus lads can yee not see how pathetic yis are… “Well done yeah got em” Haha brilliant stuff. The focus has gone off the pool, great tactic
Maybe everyone won’t notice when we beat yea to the title in 2 weeks. Lol
@themansam: Samantha, you are fully triggered again today ( for the second day in a row). You need to breathe deeply and gather your thoughts before you say something you regret. Just a bit of friendly advice…
@Brian Boru: BRENNER left Brian, you must be the even shift.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: from what I’ve read above you support Everton, what exactly will they be winning in the next two weeks? You need to get a hobby sport, you seem a bit deluded.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: no petal, youre the one saying things you regret and youre the one triggered.. turn coat, fair weather fan, plastic fan
@Brian Boru: No sir , I’m a Manchester city supporter and im originally from Denton, what made you think I was Everton from any of my posts? You must have been reading the lads posts. I honestly could name 3 players of the Everton if I was lucky. As if I would support any Scouser team, hahahaha I think not. Sure I don’t even speak the language….
@themansam: “Turn turn turn , plastic, fair weather” What are you babbling on about now Samantha??? The only person your annoying is yourself now. Your team have a very high chance now of finishing with nothing and your focusing your anger on me for some reason unbeknownst to me.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: my mistake then, although a forgivable one I think given the link above to a comment you made on a different article where you clearly said ‘I’m a toffee’ etc. Do you care to explain that?
@Brian Boru: he wont explain it but the gig is up for him anyway. He’s sad and so we should ignore it. Just a quick scope up trough the thread and not one person has thumbed even one of his comments. So hopefully that’s the start of that. Ignore and he will get bored. Another pity for city not dropping points. Is he would have disappeared surely then. Ah well
@Brian Boru: Apology accepted, yeah sure I’ll explain it again for the 20th time. Sam and his band of merry men were abusing me for months prior to that trying to find out who I supported. And I was saying different teams every week. Simple as that really, Burnley, Man Utd, wolves, whoever was coming up really…. I don’t take kindly to bullying tactics. There’s loads of links but it does suit Sams agenda to post them. I’ve had this out with them on so many occasions. You seem to be joining in the fun now…
@Seaniecp: Hahahaha, why on earth would anybody read a thread 80 comments long that was posted 10 hours ago. About something completely off this topic. The only people thumbing yours are yourselves.. hahahahahhahaha Sean you truly are a legend mate. Do you think I’m posting for thumbs up. IS THAT WHAT YOU DO MR INSECURE???? LOL Hang on and I’ll go back and give myself a few thumbs up hahahahahahahahahahahaha hilarious…
@Seaniecp: Sean, I’ve given you all my thumbs up too now hahahahahhahaha, your a class act mate.
@Seaniecp: mmm, he got completely out foxed and shown up on the Howard Kendall thing but I almost have a grudging respect for his infantile relentlessness thereafter, now there’s a thought…..do you think he could be an actual child or young teenager pretending to be a grown up?
@Brian Boru: quite possibly. For his sake I hope that’s true.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: I’m just trying to point out that no one gives a sh*t about what your saying is all dude.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ah well I do think you might be drawing it on yourself a wee bit now!
@Brian Boru: Ahh the latest bully has picked up a stick aswell. Out foxed or cunning as a fox???? Now Brian come on, you know I’m not a teenager, give yourself some credit lad. Whilst there is a large crop of young city support I’m old school. Are you from the UK mate?
@Anthony Shoulderhead: where’s the angry bud? We’re having the craic with you. Everton where not up in the fixture list so that doesn’t make any excuse, you were on every Liverpool article giving it loads & you didn’t mention any team before the toffee comment. So again you’re at the porkies sunshine. You’re absolutely hilarious that’s why I’m here pal not angry, not even a wee bit
@Seaniecp: You clearly do mate, coz you keep responding.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: actually no, Irish born and bred but I did live there for some years.
@Brian Boru: I don’t suffer Bullies Brian, especially when they support Liverpool, and their team are on a crash course.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: and nor should you, buy if you dish it out you have to be able to take it…..and you are being regularly provocative to be fair, I’m sure you won’t deny that.
@Brian Boru: No denying it alright.
@Seaniecp: well ye do give a sh@t when there’s 80 odd comments from ye all responding to him,why do people even entertain him,most of ye bite back every time he posts a comment ,just mute him and be done with him.
@Anthony Shoulderhead: so if you can’t deny dishing it out how can you call people replying to you as bullying Antonia ?
@John Connolly: maybe everyone actually enjoys the jousting John, fairly harmless stuff really.
@John Connolly: Thanks John, I see you still show the rare bit of interest yourself. I’m like the junk, once yea start it’s hard to stop.
@Brian Boru: Dont mind John he got badly burnt a while back, he is still sore.. He takes life far too seriously so he does.
@themansam: Samantha, I have been calling you by a girls name for the past 6 hours mate and I clearly know your a lad, don’t be worrying yourself about me, I’ll be fine…..
@Anthony Shoulderhead: ok so Antonia. I don’t mind bud I just assumed you’re not well, so let it slide
After 20 plus comments he still can’t come up with an explanation on “ I’m not a utd fan I’m a toffee “ ?? Still waiting , so you’ll come back now with some other garbage deflecting the question , ur like John Delaney at the oireachtas meeting ,
Not winning this season is probably gonna hurt more than the banana bathgate moment!