PFA Winners 2018: Full Awards List, Voting Results and Twitter Reaction

Mohamed Salah won the Professional Footballers' Association Player of the Year award at the 45th edition of the annual ceremony in London on Sunday. The Liverpool forward was joined by Manchester City winger Leroy Sane, who took the Young Player award.

The women's category saw Chelsea forward Fran Kirby take the Player of the Year prize, while Bristol City's Lauren Hemp retained the Young Player trophy. It was also a notable night for Casey Stoney, as the former England international won the Special Achievement award.

Meanwhile, the PFA dedicated the merit award posthumously to the late Cyrille Regis.

Here is the full list of the night's winners, per the PFA's official website:

• Player of the Year: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool
• Young Player of the Year: Leroy Sane, Manchester City
• Women's Player of the Year: Fran Kirby, Chelsea
• Women's Young Player of the Year: Lauren Hemp, Bristol City
• PFA Merit Award: Cyrille Regis
• Special Achievement Award: Casey Stoney

A full explanation of the voting system is available, per the PFA's official website.

Salah saw off the challenge of City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne and Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane. The Belgium international has been the driving force behind the Manchester club's title-winning campaign, as numbers from Squawka Football prove:

Yet it was always going to be hard to look past Salah, who has had a stunning debut season for Liverpool. The Egypt international has scored 31 goals in the Premier League, along with a further eight in Europe to help the Reds reach the UEFA Champions League semi-final.

As former Anfield striker Ian Rush put it, the numbers meant there could only be one winner:

Salah's manager is well aware of his value, with Jurgen Klopp recording a special message of congratulations relayed on the club's official Twitter account:

"

"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 pic.twitter.com/d8SBC8Plir

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 22, 2018"

Like Salah, Sane was up against some strong competition, with Kane also missing out on the Young Player award despite being set to turn 25 in July. Sane taking the prize ahead of team-mate Raheem Sterling was a mild surprise considering the latter has netted 18 times in the top flight.

However, Sane has been more dynamic as a provider, with 14 assists to his credit in all competitions. It meant the 22-year-old Germany international made history for City:

Kirby has been in free-scoring form for the Blues in recent years, so she more than merited taking home the award. Chelsea Ladies FC were quick to offer congratulations to the gifted 24-year-old:

Her goals have taken Chelsea Ladies to the semi-final of the Champions League, top of the Women's Super League standings and a place in the FA Cup final.

Hemp, the winner of 2017's England's Young Player of the Year award, earned another honour after the PFA heralded the 17-year-old's achievements. The left-sided attacker has been in the goals since making her debut in 2016.

Bristol City WFC coach Willie Kirk was quick to praise his key player:

Stoney was the first woman appointed to the PFA management committee after a glittering career representing the Three Lionesses as a combative defender. She has returned to the England setup to assist manager Phil Neville.

The PFA suitably honoured Regis, the West Bromwich Albion great who died in January, praising how he used "pure talent and steely determination to overcome the high barriers of prejudice in football," per the association's official website.

Ian Doyle of the Liverpool Echo offered his own tribute to Regis, whose family attended the ceremony to accept the award:

Salah's award is a fitting way to acknowledge his thrilling return to the Premier League after a difficult spell with Chelsea. Meanwhile, Sane appears primed for stardom as he continues to become a key figure even in a City squad loaded with stars.