Player of the Year without the best defender of PL?

Despite a dominant title-winning campaign, Liverpool's captain Virgil van Dijk has surprisingly missed out on the Premier League PFA Players' Player of the Year shortlist — a selection voted on by fellow professionals.

Only six names made the cut, and while Golden Boot winner Mohamed Salah and midfield engine Alexis Mac Allister both earned deserved nods, Van Dijk’s omission stands out. The Dutch defender was ever-reliable at the back, appearing in 37 of 38 league matches and leading Liverpool to their second Premier League title with games to spare. Under new boss Arne Slot, the Reds clinched the crown with a 10-point cushion and four matches remaining.

Van Dijk’s form not only helped secure the title, but also contributed to Liverpool boasting the second-best defensive record in the league — trailing only Arsenal. Many had tipped him for individual recognition, especially after signing a new contract and captaining his side with authority. Yet, not a single defender made the shortlist.

Salah, unsurprisingly, is the frontrunner after scoring 29 goals to guide Liverpool to glory. Mac Allister, in just his second season at Anfield, chipped in with five goals and was lauded for his consistency and fight in midfield.

Joining them in the final six are Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who blossomed into a complete midfielder; Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who tallied 15 goals and nine assists despite fading late in the season; Newcastle’s Alexander Isak, who bagged 23 goals to fire his side back into the Champions League; and, surprisingly, Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes. Despite a disappointing team finish in 15th place, Fernandes managed eight goals and 10 assists — enough to catch the attention of his peers.

Still, it’s the absence of Van Dijk that has sparked the most debate — a rare oversight in an otherwise standout campaign for the Reds.