PFA Player of the Year 2018: CaughtOffside writers pick their winners, with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and surprise pick for Manchester United star

CaughtOffside Team

It’s not long before we find out the PFA Player of the Year 2018 winner after the nominees were announced yesterday, so here at CaughtOffside we’ve put together our selections.

Read on to laugh, mock and be enraged by our writers’ choices for Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Team of the Year.

MORE: PFA Player of the Year nominees: Salah, De Bruyne in star-studded six-man shortlist

Yes, there’s a lot of love for Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, but we’ve got a couple of intriguing choices in there as well…

Player of the Year

Mark Brus – Mohamed Salah

With one of the most memorable debut seasons in living memory, it’s hard to see past Mohamed Salah’s individual brilliance. Kevin De Bruyne is boosted by having lethal forwards around him to boost his assist numbers, not to mention world class quality in nearly every position in this Manchester City team. Salah is a unique talent and just edges it for me after making history for Liverpool – the most goals ever for a player in their debut season with the Reds, only the 8th player to score 30 in the Premier League era, and the most goals by an African player in a single season.

Robert Summerscales – Mohamed Salah

30 goals and nine assists in his first 32 Premier League games for Liverpool, who are one of the most dangerous teams in the world right now thanks to the Scouse-appointed Egyptian King. Without Mohamed Salah, the Reds would be probably be scrapping with Arsenal and Burnley for sixth place, but his royal influence could yet see a sixth European crown delivered to Anfield come May.
Mohamed Salah has been outstanding in his first season for Liverpool

Ron Carne – David de Gea

It’s unlikely that a goalkeeper would win it, but for me there’s no one more important to their respective club right now than David de Gea is to Manchester United. The Spanish shot-stopper has single-handedly kept United in so many games this season, with stats from the Telegraph recently showing he’d prevented close to 14 goals this term, most memorably perhaps in that win at Arsenal, when it’s hard to believe the home side didn’t score five against United that day.

De Gea deserves more recognition, not just for his form this season, but for the fact that he could well go down as one of the finest ‘keepers this country has ever seen.

Sam Wilkins – Kevin De Bruyne

Despite Mohamed Salah’s Messi and Ronaldo-like numbers this season, Man City’s Belgian maestro has been a shining star in one of the most entertaining teams the Premier League has ever seen.
Racking up 15 assists with five games still to go, not a lot stands in the way of the former Chelsea man picking up the accolade for most assists in a Premier League season, and if Liverpool fail in their pursuits of the Champions League, De Bruyne would have won two more major trophies over the Egyptian (providing that City don’t somehow throw the league away), a factor that should contribute to deciding who picks up the actual award come the end of the season.
Kevin De Bruyne looks set to guide Manchester City to the Premier League title

Billy Hodder – Mohamed Salah

It is inevitably a two-horse race but Mohamed Salah has to edge it. If you take Kevin De Bruyne out of Manchester City this season you lose creativity in abundance. However, if you take Salah out of the Liverpool side you lose 30 goals, which is a far greater loss in the grand scheme of the Premier League. Salah is the perfect forward in the modern game as a fast and mobile attacker who is willing to press high up the pitch for 90 minutes. What a season from the Egyptian god.

Young Player of the Year

Mark Brus – Leroy Sane

It’s hard to look past Leroy Sane, who has been an absolute joy to watch for City this season and shown glimpses of what looks a very bright future at the top level of the game. Not many 22-year-olds make themselves one of the main driving forces behind a team’s emphatic title charge, but in a squad of players signed mainly as established superstars, Sane is a reminder that City are also committed to expert scouting and building a team for the future.

Robert Summerscales – Raheem Sterling

Kevin de Bruyne voted for Tottenham defender Davinson Sanchez, but I’d like to give my endorsement to one of his Spurs team-mates who has come in for a ridiculous amount of unfair criticism this season and bizarrely failed to even make the final six nominees.

Dele Alli, who just turned 22 earlier this month, has picked up the Young Player of the Year prize in each of the past two seasons and, despite what you are often told, is continuing to improve. He may be unlikely to hit 18 Premier League goals like last term, but his assist stats are higher than ever and his temperament has improved tenfold.

But hold on… Raheem Sterling is only 23, is he? In that case give it to him! Twenty goals and nine assists in 36 PL and Champions League games for another apparent bad boy who is answering his many foolish critics on the pitch. Sterling has been transformed under Pep Guardiola. If he sharpens up his shooting he could go close to posting Salah-sized stats next season.

Raheem Sterling has been instrumental in Manchester City’s title charge

Ron Carne – Harry Kane

It’s ridiculous that a 24-year-old Harry Kane is up there for YPOTY as well as POTY, but rules are rules and he therefore wipes the floor with his opponents here.

The England international has taken his game up another level this season (even scoring goals without touching the ball!), hitting 25 in just 31 appearances in the Premier League, a tally you’d think would be considerably higher if not for his injury problems. The Golden Boot is still in sight and his remarkable consistency deserves some kind of recognition, with the senior players’ prize perhaps out of sight.

Sam Wilkins – Leroy Sane

Although players like Davinson Sanchez and Raheem Sterling have had stellar campaigns, the impact that Sane has had on this City team has been one that few other players in the league would be able to accomplish. Bagging nine goals and 12 assists this campaign, the Germany international has been in exquisite form the entire season, with his ability to drive with the ball and link up extremely well with his surrounding City team-mates being shown time and time again by the player.
The level of progression he’s shown this campaign in comparison to last is an element that has wowed fans and critics alike, and is one that has seen him develop into one of the brightest young forwards in Europe.
Leroy Sane must be favourite for Young Player of the Year

Billy Hodder – Ryan Sessegnon

Technically, Harry Kane deserves it. But I refuse to give the young player of the year award to an individual who looks closer to 44 than to 24. For me, the young player of the year award is about an individual who has had a breakthrough season rather than a standout season. Therefore, record-breaker Ryan Sessegnon gets my pick. Sessegnon is the first player outside of the Premier League to have been nominated for the award and the Fulham winger has registered an outstanding 14 goals in the Championship this season. What were you doing at 17-years-old? Certainly not registering regular goals in the Championship before you’re even legally allowed to drink alcohol. Get him on the plane, Gareth!

Team of the Year

Mark Brus

David de Gea; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ben Davies, Nicolas Otamendi, Harry Maguire; Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Mohamed Salah, Leroy Sane; Roberto Firmino, Harry Kane

David de Gea is an obvious choice in goal after yet another stellar season for Manchester United. Ahead of him in defence I feel Liverpool youngster Trent Alexander-Arnold has to be a late contender, even if people are only just starting to take notice of his quality. The 19-year-old is a huge talent and his solid and mature displays at the back for the Reds have been very welcome given their defensive woes and injury problems with Nathaniel Clyne.

Harry Maguire would be another slightly rogue pick for me, but the Leicester City man is sure to earn an England place now and perhaps a move to a bigger club with some remarkably composed performances at the back for the Foxes. Nicolas Otamendi is a popular pick alongside him, with the Argentine stepping up for City this season after an unconvincing start for him in England.

Ben Davies gets the nod at left-back after out-shining Danny Rose in that position. The Welshman is truly a Mauricio Pochettino success story having come on leaps and bounds under the Argentine.

I’ve gone for something a little different further forward, picking four midfielders and two strikers. Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are obvious picks in the middle, as are Mohamed Salah and Leroy Sane on the flanks.

Up front, I’m amazed not to see more love for Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino, who has added goals to his superb work rate and all-round quality up front this season, earning him a spot alongside Harry Kane in my XI.

David de Gea has been out of this world for Manchester United again this season

Robert Summerscales

David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Stephen Ward, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen; Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen; Mohamed Salah, David Silva, Raheem Sterling; Harry Kane

David de Gea has strengthened his claim as the best keeper on the planet, while Antonio Valencia has also shone in the Manchester United defence despite constant personnel changes around him.
With Vincent Kompany no longer fit on a consistent basis, Nicolas Otamendi has become Manchester City’s defensive leader and impressed in their title win, while Stephen Ward has been a key part of a Burnley side who look set to claim a deserved Europa League spot.
Kevin De Bruyne is City’s main man, while Christian Eriksen is his equivalent at Tottenham. Without Eriksen, Spurs often look devoid of ideas, but with him they are a frightening force.
Liverpool icon Mohamed Salah has been the best player in Europe this season, with former Reds star Raheem Sterling making a reasonable effort of impersonating the Egyptian. I mentioned that De Bruyne was City’s main man, but Silva isn’t far behind and – like Eriksen – is a master at unlocking defences.
Finally, Harry Kane may have appeared a little desperate after going to great lengths to claim Tottenham’s second goal – his 25th in the PL this season – from the 2-1 win at Stoke. But that obsession with goals is part of what has helped him become one of the best No 9s in the world.

Ron Carne

David de Gea; Kyle Walker, Nacho Monreal, Davinson Sanchez, Jan Vertonghen; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane; Harry Kane

Given he was my pick for POTY, it’s no surprise I’ve gone for David de Gea in goal. Ahead of him, some fairly uncontroversial choices in defence, apart, perhaps from Tottenham youngster Davinson Sanchez, who should really be up for YPOTY. The Colombian has been a rock at the back for Spurs, displacing Toby Alderweireld and somehow staying one of the most solid back lines in the country.

In a rather attack-minded midfield, it’s City pair David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne in the centre in what has been a dream partnership this season. Ahead of them, it’s also fairly City-dominated as Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane join Liverpool goal machine Mohamed Salah in attack.

Finally, who else but my YPOTY pick Harry Kane? With 25 goals in the Premier League, something tells me this ‘kid’ has a bright future…

Harry Kane has had another sensational season in front of goal for Tottenham

Sam Wilkins

David de Gea; Antonio Valencia, Nacho Monreal, Nicolas Otamendi, Jan Vertonghen; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne; Mohamed Salah, Leroy Sane, Christian Eriksen; Harry Kane

De Gea has, undoubtedly, been one of the best players in the league this season, with there not being any ‘keepers that come close to his level of performances (even Ederson).
Valencia has been a mainstay in a United team that have had a had a massive improvement on last season, and has been, in turn, one of the most consistent and best performing defenders as well.
Vertonghen has been exceptional at the back for Spurs again, and alongside him Nicolas Otamendi has been a mainstay in City’s defence this season. The Argentine has turned into a real leader this campaign in the absence of club captain Vincent Kompany, and not only that, the 30-year-old has also seriously improved on his goal return this campaign, scoring four, with one of those a crucial winner against Man United at Old Trafford in December.
Monreal has had a very consistent season as the back for Arsenal, with the Spaniard contributing to six goals in 24 appearances for Arsene Wenger’s side in a below-par season for the Gunners. The former Malaga man has been a shining star in a dimly-lit Gunners back-line this term, and has is deserving of his place in the Premier League TOTY.
David Silva has had one of the best seasons we’ve seen from a midfielder in recent years this campaign, with the Spaniard proving time and time again that HE is the one that makes this City side tick. His contribution of 8 goals and 11 assists really doesn’t do justice as to how good the midfielder has been this season. Alongside him, my POTY pick De Bruyne has been on another level this term – what a combination.
Mo Salah –  30 goals and nine assists in 32 appearances in a record that only Lionel Messi can better in Europe this season, and when that’s the case, not much else needs to be said. The Egyptian is currently having, arguably, the best goal-scoring season we’ve ever seen from a player in the Premier League, with a CL win and decent World Cup the only things that stand in the way from the Liverpool star being a serious contender for the Ballon D’Or.
Mohamed Salah has already scored 40 goals in all competitions for Liverpool, and 30 in the Premier League
Eriksen has been the main creative force in Spurs team that have excelled this season. 10 goals and 10 assists in a Spurs side that are headed for a third top 3 finish in three seasons, it wouldn’t surprise us to see some of Europe’s biggest and best clubs come in for the Danish international in the summer.
Sane, my pick for YPOTY, has been nothing short of superb, with his performances in the second half of the season being the only thing that got him into this team over Raheem Sterling, who has also been having a stellar season at the Etihad.
With the FA’s recent decision to award Kane a goal against Stoke instead of Eriksen, the England international has now become just the third player ever to score 25 league goals in three consecutive PL seasons. The Spurs talisman has been his lethal self this season, and considering just how good Salah has been, it’s amazing to think that Kane is only four goals behind the Egyptian in the race for the Golden Boot.

Billy Hodder

David de Gea; Kyle Walker, James Tarkowski, Ben Mee, Ben Davies; David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Christian Eriksen; Mohamed Salah, Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling.

David de Gea is an obvious and inevitable choice between the sticks having made over 100 saves this season (an extraordinary amount for a goalkeeper in a top four side!).

Kyle Walker has enjoyed his most impressive Premier League season under Pep and at Tottenham Ben Davies has replaced Danny Rose as the Premier League’s standout left back. The top clubs however have all struggled to provide consistent quality at centre-back. Therefore, Sean Dyche’s prized possessions Ben Mee and James Tarkowski get the nod with the duo registering over 80 blocks between the pair this season. (Gareth Southgate, take note!)

Christian Eriksen has had perhaps his best season for Tottenham

In midfield, Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva are obvious choices. It is Christian Eriksen however who narrowly gets the pick over Silva and De Bruyne’s midfield accomplice Fernandinho. Eriksen has created and scored goals in equal and high quantities this season.

Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane are nailed on picks in any team of the year this season with over 50 goals between them in the league. Raheem Sterling however edges out Firmino, Heung-Min Son and Leroy Sane to take the final spot with the Englishman enjoying his most prolific season in the Premier League having registered 17 goals already thus far.