LONDON: Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Chelsea women’s striker Sam Kerr both achieved a notable double on Thursday as they were named the player of the year by England’s Professional Footballers Association after they each won corresponding awards from sportswriters.

Salah topped a poll of his fellow players ahead of Belgian star Kevin De Bruyne, who had won for the previous two years and was again a key member of the Manchester City team which took the Premier League title ahead of Liverpool by just a single point.

Salah was named PFA player of the year for a second time, having previously won in 2018, after a season where Liverpool lifted both the League Cup and FA Cup, while also getting to the Champions League final where they lost to Real Madrid.

Egypt striker Salah finished as the Premier League’s joint top-scorer alongside Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min with 23 goals. The 29-year-old scored 31 goals in all competitions.

“This one is a really good one to win, especially because it’s voted by players. It shows you that you’ve worked really hard and you get what you worked for,” Salah said.

Salah, who has confirmed he will see out his contract at Liverpool next season while remaining non-committal on his future at Anfield beyond 2023, added: “I have my room with trophies in a cabinet and I made sure that I had another space for one more. I always keep space and just try to imagine that the trophies are going to come.”

Salah was also named footballer of the year by England’s Football Writers’ Association in April, with Kerr, 28, winning the equivalent women’s award.

The Australian was honoured again Thursday after her 20 goals made her the top scorer in the FA Women’s Super League, with the striker helping Chelsea complete a domestic double.

“It’s a massive honour I think, whenever you’re voted by your peers. I think that’s the highest honour as a player so, it’s an amazing feeling,” said Kerr.

Manchester City’s Phil Foden and Lauren Hemp retained their trophies for the Young Player of the Year, while former England coach Roy Hodgson and Brighton & Hove Albion Women’s manager Hope Powell received merit awards for their contribution to the game.

“I never won any trophies as a player unfortunately, so it is nice to be recognised by fellow professionals. It will have pride of place,” said Hodgson, who announced his retirement last month after more than 40 years in management.

Published in Dawn, June 11th, 2022