Gary Neville Names His Player Of The Season

By Max Wise

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has surprisingly picked a Liverpool defender as his player of the season in the shape of Virgil Van Dijk.

It is quite rare for a Manchester United legend to publicly sing the praises of a player from their bitterest rivals but Neville showed no allegiances in his choice.

Van Dijk has been outstanding for the Reds this season in their bid to hoist the Premier League trophy for the first time in 29 years.

Neville believes Van Dijk sits alongside Real Madrid’s world-cup winning centre-backs, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, as the best defenders in the world currently.

Alongside Van Dijk, Manchester City’s pair of Raheem Sterling and Sergio Aguero as well as Tottenham’s Harry Kane are also favourites for the award but Neville, who won eight Premier League titles with Manchester United in a one-club career, believes the Dutch centre back is the outright favourite.

'Van Dijk has been absolutely outstanding,' Neville told Sky Sports ahead of Friday's game between Liverpool and Southampton.

'I remember looking back through my career at players like Jaap Stam, Gary Pallister, Rio Ferdinand... He (Van Dijk) is a player who makes everyone feel safe.

'He does the job of all four defenders. I think Sergio Ramos and Varane have been the best defenders in the world recently but there's no doubt he will be up there.

'He can head, his defending is brilliant, on the ball he's a joke. He passes the ball like a midfielder.

'One hundred per cent he is the player of the year. I don't think anybody has even got close to him.'

The last time a defender was named Player of the Season was in 2005 when Chelsea’s John Terry won the award for leading the club to a first Premier League title in 50 years.