Mo Salah makes history at PFA Awards as Alexander Isak makes controversial choice

Mohamed Salah has made history after completing a clean sweep of awards. Liverpool striker Salah has become the first player to win the Professional Footballers’ Association’s Player of the Year award three times.

Salah had already won the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year gong after a remarkable season which saw him help Liverpool win the title which included his 29 goals and a career-best of 19 assists.

Egypt star Salah was also part of the PFA Premier League Team of the Year in a star-studded event in Manchester. But there was one notable absentee as Newcastle ’s Alexander Isak was in the PFA XI but stayed away amid the uncertainty around his future as he pushes for a move to Liverpool.

Isak feared a backlash after making it clear he wants to leave Newcastle in what has become the ugly transfer stand-off of the summer. And after his inclusion, the Swede sensationally broke his silence on the saga, claiming "promises have been broken".

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Alexander Isak to Liverpool update, Spurs close to Eze deal, Man Utd chase targets

READ MORE: Alexander Isak has already rubbed up Liverpool icons the wrong way as club warned

The PFA XI also featured FOUR Liverpool players with Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexis Mac Allister and Ryan Gravenberch. Liverpool’s summer signing Milo Kerkez was also in the XI after his impressive season with Bournemouth while Arsenal had three representatives with William Saliba, Gabriel and Declan Rice.

Nottingham Forest duo, keeper Matz Sels and striker Chris Wood, made up the XI which is voted for by their fellow pros as PFA members.

Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers won the PFA’s Young Player of the Year while England keeper James Trafford was voted Championship Player of the Year after his promotion season with Burnley which also earned him a move to Manchester City. The League One Player of the Year was Richard Kone while Michael Cheek for the League Two award.

Arsenal’s Mariona Caldentey - who helped the Gunners win the women’s Champions League with a glorious victory over Barcelona last May - was voted PFA women’s Player of the Year.

Olivia Smith, 21, was voted Young Player of the Year as she memorably became the first £1m player in the women’s game after her transfer from Liverpool to Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Sir Gareth Southgate has been awarded the PFA Merit Award in recognition of his achievements in football and for England team. Southgate took charge in November 2016, led England to four major tournaments and took charge of over 100 games.

Former Chelsea boss Emma Hayes OBE, now in charge of the US national team, also got a PFA Merit Award to honour her contributions to women’s football over the course of an illustrious career in England.

Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.