Salah beats De Bruyne for PFA Player of Year

Mohamed Salah has been crowned the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year after an explosive first season at Liverpool.

Few could have foreseen the Egyptian magician’s impact after he swapped Roma for Anfield last summer in a £34.3 million ($67 million) deal.

It has certainly proven money well spent and Salah’s exceptional performances have brought recognition from his peers in his first season back in English football.

The 25-year-old was named Player of the Year at the 45th PFA Awards in London yesterday, having seen off tough competition from Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne.

They have been the standout players of a memorable campaign, with the Belgium international playing an integral role as Pep Guardiola’s swashbuckling side won the Premier League in style.

Leroy Sane — crowned PFA Young Player of the Year on Sunday — and David Silva were the other City players on the six-man shortlist, with outstanding Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea and freescoring Tottenham striker Harry Kane completing the nominees.

But Salah came out on top after one of the greatest debut campaigns in Liverpool’s history.

His strike at West Brom on the weekend was his 31st Premier League goal of the campaign, tying the record for the 38-game season.

Luis Suarez was the last Reds player to win the award, in 2014. ITALY