Mohamed Salah Wins 2018 PFA Player of the Year Award over Kevin De Bruyne, More

Gill Clark @@gillclarkyFeatured Columnist IApril 22, 2018

Liverpool's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring their second goal during the English Premier League football match between West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool at The Hawthorns stadium in West Bromwich, central England, on April 21, 2018. (Photo by Lindsey PARNABY / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read LINDSEY PARNABY/AFP/Getty Images)

LINDSEY PARNABY/Getty Images

Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has been named the 2017-18 PFA Player of the Year after a stunning campaign.

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne finished second, and Tottenham Hotspur's Harry Kane came third. The result was confirmed via the PFA on Sunday:

PFA @PFA
Congratulations to @LFC's Mo Salah, crowned the Men’s PFA Players’ Player of the Year 👏🏆 #PFAAwards https://t.co/fpvxwZgfdP

Salah is in his first season at Anfield but has enjoyed a prolific campaign and has scored a record-equalling 31 goals:

Bleacher Report @BleacherReport
Elite company. Mo Salah equals Ronaldo's best-ever scoring season in the Premier League https://t.co/wy2LXVXjxh

The Egypt international has helped Liverpool into third place in the table and tormented defenders with his pace, skill on the ball and finishing ability.

It's been an incredible season for the 25-year-old, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in a deal worth an initial £36.9 million, per Mark Dobson at the Guardian.

The forward has prior Premier League experience after signing for Chelsea in January 2014. However, he had few chances to shine at Stamford Bridge and was sent out on loan to Fiorentina and then Roma before sealing a permanent move to the Serie A side.

Salah has proved to be an inspired signing who has surpassed expectations. The fact he leads Lionel Messi in the race for Europe's Golden Shoe is reason enough for him to scoop the prize, according to Nick Harris at Sporting Intelligence:

Nick Harris @sportingintel
Deserved Player of the Year award for @22mosalah. When Lionel Messi is in your wake in Europe's golden boot race, you're doing something right.

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Match of the Day showed Salah receiving his award to loud cheers:

Match of the Day @BBCMOTD
Mo Salah. What. A. Season. 🏆 #MOTD2 #PFAawards https://t.co/6NKsooizbY

The Egyptian is a likable player and seems to be a popular winner over De Bruyne even though the midfielder helped Manchester City to the Premier League title.

Miguel Delaney at The Independent explained why he felt the Belgium international should have scooped the prize:

Miguel Delaney @MiguelDelaney
Not for me Clive. Don’t get me wrong. Salah a sensational player. De Bruyne represents City tho, most responsible player for PL

Salah has managed to outshine even De Bruyne, and his consistency throughout the campaign is another reason why he may have pipped the Manchester City man to the top prize.

Football writer Simon Clancy offered a neat analysis of why Salah beat the Belgian to top spot:

Simon Clancy @SiClancy
Kevin De Bruyne has been absolutely sensational this season. A true joy to watch. But hard to argue against the ridiculousness of Mo Salah’s incredible season. Involved in a goal every 66 minutes, you absolutely expect him to score every time he touches it. Remarkable footballers

Reds manager Jurgen Klopp said the award was an "unbelievable honour," per Liverpool's Twitter account:

Liverpool FC @LFC
"I think this award, you are voted for from all the other players in all the leagues in England, is an unbelievable honour so you can be really proud and your family can be really proud." 👏 Klopp has commended Salah’s @PFA achievement: https://t.co/ojyZmpwyvU https://t.co/d8SBC8Plir

Salah discussed how he felt about receiving the honour, per the PFA:

PFA @PFA
"It's a big honour, I feel great about it. I work very hard so am very happy to win it." @LFC's @22mosalah on his PFA Players’ Player of the Year award #PFAAwards https://t.co/7ooHUtlB2i

It's richly deserved recognition for Salah, who has taken the Premier League by storm and hit incredible goalscoring heights that no one expected when he signed last summer.

The Egyptian will now return to Liverpool and begin preparations for Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against former side Roma.