7 Contenders For PFA Player Of The Year 2020 Prize

Liverpool's stunning title march is down to an impeccable collective effort, and an instrumental member of that unit has been Virgil Van Dijk. He clinched the award last year, and even though he isn't the favourite this time around, stands with an outside chance of retaining the prize, something which only Thierry Henry and Cristiano Ronaldo have done in the past.

Van Dijk's though, would be a much bigger feat than that of the other two because he's a defender after all, but there's a huge 'if' here.

Liverpool have kept fewer clean-sheets than last season, whereas the likes of Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah have had a bigger impact on the team than what they did last term. All of this could go against the towering Dutchman, even though it's undeniable that he's had a wonderful season himself and remains the best centre-back there is.

Burnley's James Tarkowski is the only defender who averages more clearances than him, whereas Van Dijk is also the most prolific centre-back in the Premier League with four goals. He's never put a wrong foot forward, and regardless of all the claims, his performance levels haven't dropped by any measure.