Mohamed Salah told he should lose Player of the Year award to Liverpool team-mate after Reds secure Premier League title in memorable fashion

Salah, who has endured a terrific run of form in the 2024-25 campaign with the Reds, ended a mini goal drought in his team's 5-1 humiliation of Tottenham Hotspur last Sunday, which sealed the Merseyside club's 20th English top-flight title. He is also the frontrunner to win the Golden Boot this year with 28 strikes to his name in 34 league appearances. However, despite his heroics for Liverpool, ex-Manchester City star Richard Dunne believes that Van Dijk has been the most influential player in Arne Slot's team and the Dutch defender should be given the Player of the Year award.

Speaking to talkSPORT BET, Dunne said: "The Player of the Season has to come from Liverpool, and I think you have three players to pick from. Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Ryan Gravenberch are the players that immediately spring to mind. The way Gravenberch moves the ball from defence into attack, his fitness and his stature have been fantastic this season.

"People will say Liverpool would be nowhere near the level they are without Salah’s goals and assists, but for me, it has to be Van Dijk. He brings a calmness and coolness to the club. Without him in the side, Liverpool don’t have the same calibre of leadership; he’s been a standout player for them week-in, week-out, which is the decider for Player of the Season."

Salah's goal against Spurs helped him become the outright highest foreign goalscorer in the Premier League, leapfrogging City icon Sergio Aguero in the race. With 185 goals to his name, he is now fifth on the list of all-time highest scorers in the Premier League, behind only Alan Shearer, Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney and Andy Cole.

Slot's men will next face Chelsea as the newly crowned English champions on Sunday in a Premier League clash at Stamford Bridge.