Liverpool defender romps to victory in PFA Fans' Player of the Month

The public have spoken and Liverpool centre-back Joel Matip has been named the PFA Fans' Player of the Month for September, with WhoScored.com serving as the award's official ratings provider.

The defender was in fine form for the league leaders last month prior to sustaining an injury, helping the Reds to maximum points.

Across three appearances in September - earning victories of Newcastle, Chelsea and Sheffield United - Matip ranked second for aerial duels won in the league, winning 25 of the 28 in which he competed (89.3 per cent).

Moreover, the Liverpool man completed the fourth most accurate passes in the division and was named Sky Sports' man of the match in the crucial 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge.

The centre-back was one of 15 players submitted to the PFA panel for consideration by WhoScored.com as the official ratings partner of the fans award having earned a statistical rating of 7.74 over three appearances.

Matip stormed to victory in the public vote, accounting for 41 per cent of votes cast from a six-strong shortlist.

Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez was the defender's closest rival back on 17 per cent, with Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and City's Kevin De Bruyne tied on 14 per cent. Completing the final shortlist were Leicester's Ricardo Pereira and Bournemouth's Callum Wilson, who each achieved 7 per cent of the vote.

Matip is the second winner of the monthly award this season following on from Norwich's Teemu Pukki claiming the gong for August.