It's one of those head-scratching anomalies in English football that the votes for PFA Player of the Year and PFA Young Player of the Year are cast before the season has even ended. I mean, it hardly takes those at PFA HQ the whole summer to tally up a few votes, fuck sake!
Anyway, rant aside, it looks to be pretty much nailed on that either Man City attacker Raheem Sterling or Liverpool centre-half Virgil van Dijk will walk away with the big prize at the end of season PFA awards night.
The BT Sport cameras visited both men this week as each prepare for crucial Champions League quarter final encounters this evening.
The Dutch defender and his teammates play host to Portuguese opposition in the form of FC Porto at Anfield, while Sterling and co. will be the visitors as Spurs make their European bow at their fabulous new home, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
However, both men were questioned as to who they cast their vote for, with all selections having to have been in by the end of last month. The reactions were interesting to say the least.
Virgil van Dijk and Raheem Sterling are the runaway favourites for the PFA awards. 💪
But who did they pick as their player of the year? 🤔
Find out their votes below. 🗳👇 pic.twitter.com/RwigmutSnm— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) April 9, 2019
With both players unable to vote for anyone within their own squads, the Liverpool man candidly revealed that he voted for the City attacker.
I'm not going to vote tactically. That's not who I am.
I just want to vote for who I think has had a fantastic season.
There are a lot of players on the Man City team I could've voted for.
I think he's improved a lot as a player. He's up there, I think.
Things weren't quite as straight forward when the same question was put to the England international, however, who looked a bit bemused when asked to reveal his selection.
I actually cant remember. I think I voted for Harry Kane.
After being told his rival voted for him, Sterling broke out into a smile before saying, "Oh no, don't say that".
Van Dijk is the odds on favourite to pick up the gong at the end of season ceremony.
