"How on earth you cannot get votes in from players for this award at the end of the season is pretty pathetic, really," Alan Shearer told the BBC Sport. "Players should not be voting more than a month before the season finishes. Whose team wins what is a massive factor in who should collect these individual accolades, and we are still waiting to find out.
"The title race is between Liverpool and Manchester City and the player of the year award is between Van Dijk and Sterling - one of those two will definitely win it.
"Here and now, I am giving it to Van Dijk, on the basis he has transformed Liverpool defensively and given them the backbone they need to go the distance in the title race.
"Defensively they have been so much more solid than they have been in recent seasons. In goal, Alisson has improved them too, but Van Dijk has been the big difference. He has just been a rock for them - a real man-mountain at the back with his organisation, presence and reading of the game.
"In games or situations where Liverpool have been under pressure, he has really stood out, because he has been so dominant - whatever the scenario, and whoever he is up against. But if City win a domestic treble this season then one of their players should be player of the year."
