Former Blackburn and Chelsea striker Chris Sutton has slammed Daily Mail journalist Ian Ladyman for picking Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes ahead of Liverpool forward Mo Salah for his Player of the Season.

The pair were speaking about their choices on the ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast, when Sutton was left gobsmacked by the decision to overlook Salah:

“Are you joking?. That’s a wind-up. You are joking, I can see a big daft look on your face. That’s absolutely ridiculous. In terms of player of the season, you’ve just sort of tinkered with how we are viewing this. That’s ridiculous. I’ll give you my three then, Chris Wood number three then two and one were difficult.”

“Virgil van Dijk number two and Mo Salah. Van Dijk I think is back to his very best and when I say his very best, before he got the injury. He’s a leader, a wonderful passer of the ball but he’s been so integral to Liverpool winning the Premier League.”

“And then Mo Salah, Just looking at his numbers again and I know he’s gone off the boil a bit but his numbers are absolutely extraordinary once again this season. 27 goals, 18 assists I mean that’s ridiculous. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Salah is almost guaranteed to be named the PFA Player of the Year

As Sutton points out, the numbers that the Egyptian King has recorded this season have been unprecedented. He has broken the Premier League record for the most goal involvements and he is set to receive his fourth Golden Boot award.

It is, therefore, not a surprise to see his odds for the PFA Player of the Year. Most bookmakers have the winger at between 1/40 and 1/33 odds-on to win the accolade.

Why are some keen to play down the Liverpool star’s achievements?

There is definitely some recency bias involved. Salah hasn’t quite been himself over the last couple of months, especially in terms of his goal scoring. He has only found the back of the net twice in his last six league games.

Even so, it just demonstrates how good the 32-year-old was earlier in the campaign. He was on course to break Erling Haaland’s goal record at one point, but it will still be a phenomenal season no matter how things go from here on out.

Click here to see Liverpool’s first team squad for the 2024/25 season