Virgil van Dijk is expected to win the Professional Football Association's Player of the Year award, according to reports.

The Dutchman has been incredible all season for Liverpool, helping them to the tightest defence in the Premier League.

He's transformed Jurgen Klopp's defence - it's easy to forget just how bad it was before he arrived in January of last year.

Clinching the award would also make Van Dijk the third Liverpool player to do so in six years after Luis Suarez in 2014 and Mohamed Salah in 2018.

Van Dijk's primary rival for the Player of the Year award has long been considered to be Raheem Sterling.

The Manchester City forward is set to have to settle for the Young Player of the Year award, however.

The report from The Times does claim that Sterling leads the voting for the Football Writers' award, though.

Sterling has bagged 17 Premier League goals this season - the best of his career so far - adding another nine assists.

It would also, quite astonishingly, make him the first City player to win a PFA award.

City have won the Premier League three times since 2012 but are yet to clinch a single award from fellow pros.

This is set to be the year, though, thanks to Sterling's brilliant form.

The duo are also battling it out over the Premier League title, of course.

City can regain top spot with victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, while Liverpool face Cardiff City on Sunday.

The big one could well be in midweek, however, as City face a trip to Old Trafford in the Manchester Derby.

The race is set to go down to the wire as both Van Dijk and Sterling hope to crown their very impressive seasons with the title.