Liverpool top-scorer Mo Salah backed to beat De Bruyne to Player of the Year award

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Former Liverpool left-back John Arne Riise says that Mohamed Salah should edge out Kevin De Bruyne for the 2017-18 Player of the Year award. 

The Liverpool forward has made history in his maiden season on Merseyside, netting 36 goals in 41 games across all competitions – more than any other Red in a debut campaign. 

Salah is the Premier League’s leading goalscorer and is giving Barcelona’s Lionel Messi a run for his money in the race for the European Golden Shoe.

Manchester City have all but clinched the Premier League title this season, and Belgium’s De Bruyne has played a key role in Pep Guardiola’s campaign this season.

The Belgium international has been touted as one of the Premier League’s best ever passers by some pundits – placing him ahead of Premiership legends like David Beckham and Ryan Giggs.

De Bruyne and Salah are the top contenders for this years Player of the Year Award and Riise believes the Liverpool striker will edge City’s playmaker to the accolade. NaijaBet.com

“I haven’t seen many players do the same things he has done in the first season at a new club. He is doing things nobody expected him to do,” the Norwegian told Liverpoolfc.com.

“He didn’t have a great time at Chelsea; he was good at Roma; but now he is doing things we have never seen before.

“Being a Liverpool fan, I want him to win every personal trophy. There are a few other players who have done well this year – Kevin De Bruyne has done well for City. I think it’s going to be tight between those two but, for me, Player of the Year is definitely Mo Salah.”

Who’s been more valuable this season: Salah or De Bruyne?

Assuming it does come down to these two, deciding between Salah and De Bruyne will be a close call for those casting their votes, as both players have played magnificently this campaign. NaijaBet.com

Out of the two players, Salah has been the more prolific, scoring 28 goals in 30 appearances in the Premier League, while De Bruyne has only managed a quarter of Salah’s tally.

De Bruyne makes up some ground on his Egyptian rival in regards to gifting goals to his teammates, creating 14 assists to Salah’s nine.

De Bruyne has the edge over Salah in possession, too. The Belgian international has been far more creative with the ball this season, creating 95 chances this season – 43 more than Salah. De Bruyne also completes more passes than his rival on Merseyside with a pass completion rate of 83%.