LONDON: Liverpool star Mohamed Salah leads the six-man shortlist for the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s Player of the Year award, announced Friday, after a standout season in which he guided the Reds to Premier League glory.
The 33-year-old Egyptian forward was instrumental in Liverpool’s title-winning campaign, scoring 29 goals and providing 18 assists. His dominance in English football this past season earned him the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) Footballer of the Year title, with nearly 90 percent of the votes — the largest winning margin recorded this century.
Salah is joined on the PFA shortlist by his Liverpool teammate Alexis Mac Allister, Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, and Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes.
Palmer’s inclusion raised some eyebrows, given Chelsea’s underwhelming campaign and the winger’s own inconsistent form.
However, the 22-year-old did clinch the PFA Young Player of the Year award for 2023–24, highlighting his individual impact in flashes despite the club’s overall struggles.
Declan Rice enjoyed a commanding presence in Arsenal’s midfield, registering a career-best nine goals and 10 assists across all competitions, as the Gunners pushed Liverpool in the title race until the final weeks.
Newcastle’s Alexander Isak notched 23 goals and played a vital role in the club’s historic season, which included a top-four league finish and their first major trophy in over five decades with the League Cup triumph.
Bruno Fernandes, despite Manchester United’s turbulent season — their worst top-flight campaign since 1973–74 — remained a beacon of consistency, contributing eight goals and 10 assists.
The winner of the prestigious award, voted on by fellow professional players across England, will be announced during the PFA Awards ceremony in Manchester on August 19.
