‘Finished’ Liverpool star makes Premier League Player of the Season shortlist

The names on the Premier League Player of the Season shortlist are now out - and Liverpool see one player included.

Virgil van Dijk has been nominated for the Premier League Player of the Season award. The Dutchman finds himself on the eight-man shortlist and is the only Liverpool player included.

Both Manchester City and Arsenal have two players each on the list. Phil Foden and Erling Harland make it for City, while Martin Odegaard is joined by Declan Rice from the Gunners.

Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer and Aston Villa’s Declan Rice make up the rest of the shortlist.

Manchester City players have won the award for the last four seasons, and no one outside of City or Liverpool have won it since N’Golo Kanté in 2017.

It’s a little more up in the air this time, though. Both Arsenal stars have a real shot at winning, though it does feel like Foden is the favourite here.

Virgil van Dijk’s chances

Van Dijk likely won’t even finish in the top three here, even after a stellar season. The shine has just been taken off a little over the last couple of months.

But it’s still recognition of a magnificent turnaround. Van Dijk was off it last season, unable to reach the heights he’d previously set himself. It led to many believing he was in an irreversible decline.

That changed this season - he’s been far closer to his best and even took a chance after the EFL Cup final to address that criticism. “They thought I was finished,” he told a camera in the dressing room.

The question is whether he can maintain the form going into next season. It’s a season where the Reds will really need it, after all, as they try to build again under a new manager.

It certainly sounds as though he’s sticking around, now let’s see if Van Dijk can keep his peak going to help lead another era at Anfield.