Earlier today, the Premier League announced their nominees for the 2021/22 Player of the Season award, with two Liverpool players involved.
Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold have deservedly been nominated following stunning individual campaigns.
However, we believe Virgil van Dijk will be feeling quite annoyed following the Premier League’s announcement.
What’s the story?
Well, Liverpool could’ve had a number of players on the shortlist, as Sadio Mane, Alisson and Andy Robertson have also enjoyed phenomenal campaigns.
However, Van Dijk is the one who we strongly believe should’ve been included, and he has every right to feel aggrieved.
Last season – when Jürgen Klopp was without the Dutchman – Liverpool kept just 12 clean sheets in the Premier League.
Aston Villa had a better record, keeping 15 shutouts.
However, with the £220,000-a-week man back this season, the Reds have impressively kept 21 clean sheets – no other Premier League side have kept more.
In addition to that telling statistic, Van Dijk has scored three goals, while also providing four assists in his 34 Premier League outings this term.
The 30-year-old has simply been colossal, and his return to the Liverpool side has been transformative.
Virgil van Dijk makes Liverpool tick
When you think of a central defender, actions such as clearing the ball, tackling and intercepting immediately come to mind.
However, in the case of Van Dijk, he can do all of that and more.
The Liverpool No.4 is rapid, which allows Klopp to adopt a very, very high defensive line – at times, it even feels like he’s playing in midfield.
Van Dijk is also a world-class technician, who is capable of firing long-range passes to the feet of Salah, Mane and others from inside his own box.
That has a massive impact on Liverpool’s attacking play, as it allows the Reds to easily beat an opponent’s press and take them by surprise.
Whoever wins the 2021/22 Premier League Player of the Season award, Van Dijk should feel outraged to not even receive a nomination.
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