Virgil van Dijk would be crowned Player of the Year if the award was handed out right now as he is ‘the best centre-back in the world’, according to Liverpool team-mate Andy Robertson.

Van Dijk, who became the world’s most expensive defender when moving to Anfield in 2018, arguably leads the race for the accolade ahead of other contenders such as Sergio Aguero and Fernandinho of Manchester City, as well as Tottenham’s Heung-Min Son.

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Since the Professional Footballers’ Association brought in its awards in 1974 a defender has won the main prize only five times, with John Terry the last to do so 14 years ago.

But Van Dijk has been the key component in Liverpool’s title challenge, helping the Reds keep a league-leading 16 clean sheets this season, and Robertson offered some insight into why.

“If the season ended tonight, I would give him it personally,” said the Scotland captain who is similarly enjoying a fine season in Liverpool’s back-line.

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“There’s still 10 games to go and somebody can step up from another team but Virgil can take it to a whole new level, I reckon.

“The attacking players are usually in the running because they take all the goals and the headlines but this season Virgil has been fantastic and he’s getting all the plaudits that he deserved.

“I don’t think he’ll be focusing on that, he’ll be focusing on the team. It’s always nice to get end-of-season awards and I’m sure he’ll be in the running. It will be close if he doesn’t win it.

“He’s so consistent as well. If he puts the performances as he has done, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t have that trophy.

“He makes my life easier, that’s for sure. To have him next to me it makes everything so much easier.

“When somebody is running at you and you know Virgil is inside – he’s rarely out of position, if ever.

“For me, he’s the best centre-back just now in the world. That’s the way he’s playing and the confidence he’s got – and he’s still young enough that he can get even better.”

Van Dijk continued his superb campaign by scoring twice in Liverpool’s midweek demolition of Watford, though his tally of only four goals in 56 appearances for the Reds is a surprise given just how dominant the Netherlands international is in his own penalty area.

“He works hard every day,” Robertson continued. “Probably the only disappointment for him is that he hasn’t chipped in with enough goals.

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“For the size of him he’s a threat in both boxes and he scored two fantastic headers but more importantly defensively he was sound.

“Him and Joel Matip did fantastically to keep the clean sheet because they [Watford] hit us on the counter-attack a few times and those two mopped up – a tough task against Troy Deeney.

“Not many people bully him but I thought Virgil dominated him all game.”