Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has claimed he is happier now than ever before at Anfield while collecting the Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year award.
Salah claimed 90 percent of the votes for the esteemed prize, with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk coming second. Having scored 33 times in all competitions, though, the Egyptian was always going to run away with most individual gongs.
In winning the FWA award for a third time, Salah also draws level with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry. The Liverpool No. 11 is in the middle of a goal drought at the moment, but the Premier League title has long been wrapped up.
“‘I have never felt happier at the club,” Salah said. “It’s incredible to have had that impact on the team. I won’t catch [Ian Rush’s goalscoring record]… he’ll be Liverpool’s leading goalscorer forever.”
Salah recently penned a new two-year contract extension at Anfield. “I am very, very happy to be here,” he said at the time. “I signed here because I believe we can win a lot of big trophies together.”
On individual awards and scoring goals, he added: “I’m just a good winger and I try to do my job. As long as we’re winning games and are close to winning trophies, that’s the most important thing.
“It’s great [to be climbing up the goalscoring charts]. But I’m more proud when we win team trophies because this is the most important thing.
“When you win something with the team and are scoring goals and you are involved, that’s what people remember. Just individual awards without winning anything doesn’t feel great.”
Earlier this week, Gary Neville was left surprised when Ian Wright put Alexander Isak in the conversation for the best forward in the division this season on The Overlap.
“Best forward, I don’t think we’ll hang around much on this,” Neville said on the podcast, which is sponsored by Sky Bet. “It’s got to be Salah, hasn’t it?”
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Wright then offered his thoughts and said Isak, who has scored 27 goals for Newcastle United this season, would be in the conversation as well for him.
Neville replied: “Are you going, Isak, over Salah? Wow, I didn’t think that would be a choice.”
Liverpool.com says: Isak has been excellent for the Magpies, but Salah has been on another level. It is easy to forget because his level has dropped in recent games, but Salah’s numbers have been incredible.
Next season, Slot has already suggested he doesn’t expect Salah to hit the same heights in terms of the goals and assists he provides. Telling that to the Egyptian could be a masterstroke — he will be desperate to prove his manager wrong.
