Mohamed Salah beat competition from the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Alexander Isak to claim the PFA Players' Player of the Year award on Tuesday.
Salah claims historic third awardSaw off competition from Fernandes and IsakLed Liverpool to Premier League titleFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
Salah made history as he claimed the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award for the 2024-25 season at the Manchester Opera House on Tuesday night. It is the Egyptian's third time scooping the prize after previous successes in 2017-18 and 2021-22, making him the only player in history to collect the trophy on three occasions. It's just reward for his performances in the season just gone, having contributed 29 goals and 18 assists during the Reds' title success.
AdvertisementWHO ELSE WAS NOMINATED?
As well as Fernandes and Isak, Salah also edged fellow nominees Declan Rice, Cole Palmer and Alexis Mac Allister to claim the gong. Isak, who is currently pining for a move to Anfield, was the second top scorer behind Salah, while Rice was a leading figure as Arsenal came up short in their domestic and European challenges. Palmer was again incredibly productive in front of goal despite a quieter end to the campaign, while Mac Allister formed part of a formidable Liverpool midfield combination alongside Ryan Gravenberch and Dominik Szoboszlai. Fernandes, meanwhile, was a bright light in an otherwise dismal campaign for Manchester United, supplying eight goals and ten assists in the Premier League.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Among the other award winners were Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers, who claimed the PFA Young Player of the Year gong, and Mariona Caldentey, who picked up the main prize for the Women's Super League, while James Trafford, now of Manchester City, claimed the Championship's Player of the Year trophy after a brilliant season with Burnley.
The PFA Awards are handed out by the Professional Footballers' Association. The Players’ Player of the Year winner is decided by a first vote which narrows the options down to a shortlist before another vote which then determines who picks up the trophy. Players cannot vote for their own club team-mates.
Getty Images SportWHAT NEXT?
Salah's future was the subject of much speculation last season but he ignored all the off-field talk and put in brilliant performances week after week before signing a contract extension at Anfield. With both his future and personal silverware secured, next up for Salah and Liverpool after their opening victory over Bournemouth is a trip to Newcastle on Monday night.