Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has hailed Virgil van Dijk as the "best defender in the world" after the centre-back was named the 2018-19 UEFA Men's Player of the Year.
The Dutchman was also named the UEFA Champions League Defender of the Season at an awards ceremony on Thursday, and Klopp said the recognition of his achievements was the "icing on the cake" for the Reds' successful campaign in that competition.
He told James Carroll for Liverpool's official website:
"I'm so happy for him; I'm happy for us as well because he knows that without the boys around him, he cannot win that prize.