Having equalled the Premier League goals record on Saturday, Mo Salah was crowned PFA Player of the Year on Sunday evening. And rightly so.
The Egyptian has scored 31 league goals since returning to England from Roma last summer, matching the existing record that is jointly held by Alan Shearer, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez. With three games remaining, he’ll definitely break it.
It might’ve been a tough blow for Kevin De Bruyne who has been so good and so important for the walk-away champions who have been so much better than everyone else in the league but Salah is full value for his award.
But when you give someone an inch they take a mile. When you give Liverpool fans the player of the year, they want three of their men included on the best XI. At whatever cost.
The PFA @premierleague Team of the Year!
🏆 #PFAAwards @OfficialPanini pic.twitter.com/ZVOQAJZpCN— Professional Footballers’ Association (@PFA) April 22, 2018
Their first shout was for Roberto Firmino.
Ahead of who? Kane? Aguero? Salah?
15 Premier League goals went the argument despite the bald facts that Aguero has scored six more, he’s assisted one less and he has been banging them in at a rate that’s 70 minutes a goal more effective than Firmino.
Complete joke that #Firmino isn't in that team of the year!! Has been a lot better than Aguero and co.. And his stats speak volumes in comparison! The others don't even come close.. #BBCFootball #teamoftheyear
— Mick Hagan (@Mick9Hagan) April 22, 2018
Firmino should be in the team of the year
— He'sMagicYouKnowIt'sCodyGakpoOoOOoOOOh (@MoManeLessProb) April 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/timbolton1/status/986539877318709248
Firmino should be in the team of the year, not Aguero.
The man is criminally under-rated he 100% deserves it.
— AllezTheReds (@AllezTheReds) April 18, 2018
Despite Raheem Sterling, Jamie Vardy and Romelu Lukaku all finishing ahead of Firmino in goals scored too, the audacity of the outrage never faltered.
Firmino has been brilliant. But so have Kane, Aguero and Salah.
In fact, the only person who should be perplexed by that front three is Leroy Sané who was good enough to be nominated for player of the year, sure, but somehow didn’t fit onto team of the year. He was apparently one of the top three players, but not one of the top 11.
But if Firmino’s quality and obvious effect make calls for his exclusion understandable, you’ll have a bigger job selling the Andy Robertson dream.
https://twitter.com/FuriousFirmino/status/986606842842370048
https://twitter.com/Dunj77/status/986551753649868800
Firmino and particularly Robertson can feel very hard done by not to be included in that PFA team of the year. Alonso hasn't been bad by any means but Robertson has been outstanding. Think that's one for reputation over performances. Tarkowski very unlucky to miss out too.
— Dan (@Dan23_92) April 18, 2018
https://twitter.com/andyboylfc7/status/986651659966312454
Robertson has surprised many with how solid he’s been and how dangerously he bursts up the left wing and he’s even surprised Liverpool fans themselves who bemoaned what seemed like an uninspiring signing in the summer.
He was also really good against City in the Champions League quarter-final. But that doesn’t amount to being the best left back in England since August.
Robertson has played just 20 league games for Liverpool, three European matches and there are others – including Alonso – who have been better for longer.
These votes weren’t cast based off two good legs just past there. They’re based off a full season where City have scored 18 more goals than Liverpool, Aguero and Kane have scored a combined 17 more than Bobby and where Jurgen Klopp’s men – despite all the excitement and well timed form – could still be six points behind bloody United by the end of the week. And look how shit they have been.
