Virgil van Dijk produced a superb performance for Liverpool in their 0-0 draw against Everton on Sunday.

The Liverpool Echo rated his performance nine out of 10, while Jamie Carragher claimed Liverpool would have lost the game if not for Van Dijk’s presence.

“If he's not playing, I think Everton win the game,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

"He looks like a man playing in a kids' game. He's playing against some of the top players in European football in the Premier League, but everything is so easy.”

If Liverpool go on to win the Premier League, then they will owe much of their success to Van Dijk’s performances.

The Reds have now kept 17 clean sheets this season and it’s hard to see how Van Dijk won’t win the Player of the Year award if Liverpool claim the title.

Yet former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires believes Eden Hazard deserves the award, not Van Dijk.

Pires: Hazard, not Van Dijk, is POTY

Pires was speaking to bwin when he claimed Hazard has been the best player in the top flight this season.

“I think Hazard is the best player in the Premier League and he fits the profile of what Real Madrid are looking for,” Pires said, per the Express.

“I’ve seen talk about maybe Van Dijk winning Premier League Player of the Year, but there should only be one winner and his name is Eden Hazard.

"I watch Chelsea matches just because I want to watch Hazard play.

“Chelsea are very lucky to have Hazard and he can do things that no other player in the world can do.”

Hazard is enjoying another brilliant season, scoring 16 goals and providing 11 assists in all competitions, but Chelsea’s struggles this season could cost him a chance of individual glory.

The Blues are sixth in the table and followed up their exit in the FA Cup by losing the Carabao Cup final.