Egyptian and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah finds himself conspicuously absent from this year’s Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Men’s Players’ Player of the Year Shortlist. His omission from the PFA Awards comes despite Salah’s instrumental role in leading Liverpool to a fifth-place finish in the English Premier League. Notably, Salah secured this accolade in 2022, yet he has failed to secure a spot among the final six nominees this time around.
Among the PFA Awards nominees is Erling Haaland, a standout member of Manchester City’s triumphant squad that secured a treble victory. This esteemed shortlist further includes his Manchester City teammates Kevin De Bruyne and John Stones, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka of Arsenal, along with former Tottenham striker Harry Kane.
Erling Haaland’s debut season in English football was nothing short of remarkable, as he shattered the Premier League’s goalscoring record with an astounding tally of 36 goals in just 35 appearances. This extraordinary achievement followed his transition from Borussia Dortmund and rightfully earned him a well-deserved spot on the esteemed final PFA Awards shortlist. His prolific feats extended to a total of 52 goals across all competitions during the 2022–23 season, a period in which Manchester City clinched the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League titles.
De Bruyne’s influence was felt as he clinched the Premier League’s highest assist-maker title with 16 assists in 32 appearances. Additionally, he found the back of the net on seven occasions in the top flight. Meanwhile, Stones’ tactical shift from defense to midfield proved pivotal in Manchester City’s triumphant treble campaign.
Meanwhile, Harry Kane amassed a total of 34 goals across various competitions. This accomplishment propelled his overall Premier League goal count to a staggering 213, leaving him 43 goals away from Alan Shearer’s record. It’s notable, however, that Kane’s journey has since taken him to Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich during the summer transfer window.
Also included in the PFA Awards shortlist is Martin Odegaard, whose impact was pivotal in guiding Arsenal to their most successful campaign in a decade. With 15 goals and seven assists across all competitions, Odegaard’s contributions were central to Arsenal securing second place in the Premier League title race.
The brilliance of the Gunners’ star winger, Bukayo Saka, transcended mere statistics. With 15 goals and 11 assists to his name, the 21-year-old played a pivotal role in propelling Arsenal to a second-place finish in the Premier League, and a spot on the PFA Awards shortlist. Given his youthful trajectory, the Nigerian and English forward’s potential for growth remains substantial, promising an even brighter future ahead.
The decision to exclude Salah from the final PFA Awards shortlist has come under scrutiny from some pundits, particularly due to the fact that he led his team to secure a commendable 5th position in the league standings, which is three places higher than Kane’s Tottenham Hotspur.