Man United captain Bruno Fernandes tipped for player of the year over Liverpool’s Mo Salah in ‘ridiculous’ claim

Add as preferred source on Google

Liverpool are all set to win the Premier League on Sunday with a draw against Tottenham seeing them crowned as champions.

Nothing should be taken for granted, of course, but with five games left in which to seal just one point, the Reds are not going to be caught.

It has been an unbelievable season for Liverpool. Not many gave them any kind of hope before a ball was kicked, but Arne Slot has worked wonders to send the Reds well clear at the top.

Slot has been helped by some incredible form from star man Mohamed Salah. Salah is nailed on to win both the Premier League Golden Boot and the Playmaker Award for most assists.

By any rate, Salah has been the best player in the Premier League this season. He should be a shoo-in for any and all individual awards.

Not according to everyone, it seems. Daily Mail journalist Ian Ladyman has decided that despite his team sitting in 14th place, Man United captain Bruno Fernandes deserves the award over Salah. Thankfully, pundit Chris Sutton was on hand to put him straight.

Chris Sutton calls out ‘ridiculous’ Bruno Fernandes shout

It is laughably bad to suggest any player other than Salah deserves this season’s Player of the Year award. But to put Fernandes forward is quite incredible.

That’s exactly what Ladyman has done, though, telling the ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast that the midfielder has made the most impact for his particular team than any other player. Salah wasn’t even in the journalist’s top two, with Alexander Isak bizarrely in second place.

“Are you joking?” replies Sutton. “That’s a wind up. You are joking, I can see a big daft look on your face. That’s absolutely ridiculous.”

After being told that Ladyman was in fact deadly serious, Sutton explained exactly why he was wrong.

READ MORE: Former Liverpool player Xherdan Shaqiri is quietly matching Mohamed Salah as incredible season continues

“In terms of player of the season you’ve just sort of tinkered with how we are viewing this,” he says. “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,” Sutton continued. “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.

“It’s not just for his whole contribution for Liverpool over the years, it’s this season, a difference maker at the top end of the pitch. The hardest thing to do is score goals and he does it brilliantly and the number of assists surprised me as well. So, Mo Salah, it has to be.”

Mohamed Salah disrespect reaches new heights

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but this is not a valid one from Ladyman. There is no world in which Fernandes has been anything like as influential as Salah this season.

The Portuguese has had a good campaign individually and has hauled United out of some tight spots. But the Red Devils are certain to have their worst ever Premier League campaign.

As for picking Isak ahead of Salah, that just doesn’t make any sense either. As a forward, he can be measured directly against the Liverpool man.

While his 21 goals and six assists are impressive, it pales in comparison to Salah’s 27 and 18. In terms of proportion, Salah has had a hand in 45 of Liverpool’s 75 goals, Isak 27 of Newcastle’s 62. There’s no comparison.

This is clearly a simple case of Ladyman looking for some attention. But it still highlights that even in what will be the Premier League’s greatest ever individual season, Salah is still being overlooked by some.