Mohamed Salah is the headline act of a PFA Premier League Team of the Year dominated by champions Liverpool.
With a staggering 47 goal involvements last season, there was little surprise he was included in the best XI voted by his fellow players. Liverpool coasted to the Premier League crown in Arne Slot’s first season, beating out Arsenal by 10 points to win their 20th top-flight title.
Salah is joined by three of his team-mates from last season; Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. And Milos Kerkez, who signed for the Reds in the summer, is also named after impressing in his final season for Bournemouth.
Runners up Arsenal are also well represented, with their brilliant central defensive partnership of William Saliba and Gabriel picked. The Gunners conceded a league low 34 league goals last term and much of that was put down to the solidity of the pairing in the heart of their back four.
Declan Rice rounds off the Arsenal picks as he continues to shine following his massive £105million switch from West Ham two years ago.
Nottingham Forest were the surprise package of 2024/25, with Nuno Espirito Santo’s side defying all expectations to finish in a European spot. Goalkeeper Matz Selz has been recognised as the league’s best stopper, while Chris Wood’s stunning 20-goal season earns him a place as one of two central strikers.
Alongside him is Alexander Isak, although the wantaway Newcastle star was inconspicuous by his absence as the saga surrounding his future continues. The Swede was the toast of the Toon last campaign, firing in 23 league goals and four more in the cups, helping end the club’s 56-year trophy drought in the process.
But his legacy at St. James’ is tarnished beyond repair after a game of brinksmanship with his current employers. Isak has made it clear that he wants to go in search of a new challenge, despite still having three years on his contract.
The 25-year-old believes he has played his final game for the club and desperately wants to join the likes of Salah and Van Dijk at Anfield before the window ends. The striker has been told to stay away from the main group by Eddie Howe until his future is resolved.
As well as being absent from training, he decided to not attend the event in Manchester, fearing a backlash amid the ongoing saga.
And shortly after the team was announced, he took to social media to insist that his relationship with Newcastle “can’t continue”.
He said: “I’m not at the ceremony tonight. With everything going on, it didn’t feel right to be there. I’ve kept quiet for a long time while others have spoken. That silence has allowed people to push their own version of events, even though they know it doesn’t reflect what was really said and agreed behind closed doors.
“The reality is that promises were made and the club has known my position for a long time. To now act as if these issues are only emerging is misleading. When promises are broken and trust is lost, the relationship can’t continue. That’s where things are for me right now and why change is in the best interests of everyone, not just myself.”
