Virgil van Dijk has been crowned the Premier League's player of the month for December.

The 27-year-old has become the first defender to win the award in six years since Tottenham's Jan Vertonghen in March 2013.

His Liverpool coach, Jurgen Klopp, was also named the manager of the month for December. Klopp was first named manager of the month in September 2016.

"It's nice, the icing on the cake," said the German.

"It was a very successful but difficult month. Each game felt like the most important one of the season. It was unbelievable. The intensity was massive but that's what made it a special month."

The Reds were unbeaten throughout December with Van Dijk playing in all eight of their matches, scoring in their 2-0 win against Wolves.

Liverpool are four points clear at the top of the Premier League and play Brighton on Saturday.