The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) have confirmed its six nominees for the annual Premier League Player of the Season Award, with two Liverpool players among the shortlist, although Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch have been surprisingly omitted.
Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah have been chosen by their fellow professionals as candidates for the annual prize, which is voted for by Premier League players.
They will face competition from Arsenal’s Declan Rice, who was the Gunners' standout player as they again finished second. Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak has also been named on the shortlist after netting 23 times in the Premier League and helping Eddie Howe’s side to win a first major trophy in 50 years.
The other nominees were perhaps less expected. Bruno Fernandes has been selected despite Manchester United’s 14th-place finish.
The Portugal captain contributed eight goals and 11 Premier League assists in a struggling United side, while featuring in 57 games across all competitions.
Cole Palmer was another shock decision given the Chelsea star’s underwhelming form in the second half of the season. He netted just once from the middle of January.
Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch
Virgil van Dijk and Ryan Gravenberch were overlooked for the PFA award. (Image: PA)
The decision to exclude Van Dijk and Gravenberch will come as a surprise, however. Both played in 37 of Liverpool’s league matches this season and were nominated for the equivalent Premier League award.
The winner of the 2025 PFA Premier League Player of the Year award will be confirmed on August 19 in an award ceremony held in Manchester.
The prizes for the EFL and women’s leagues will also be announced, with Liverpool’s Olivia Smith up for the Women's PFA Young Player of the Year award.
After a record-breaking season for Salah, he is certainly the favorite in the Premier League category. The Liverpool winger set a new high of 47 goal involvements in a 38-game campaign and won the Golden Boot and Playmaker awards.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 25: (THE SUN OUT. THE SUN ON SUNDAY OUT) Mohamed Salah of Liverpool poses for a photo with his Premier League Golden boot and Playmakers award after the teams 1-1 draw in the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Salah collected plenty of award in the 2024/25 season. (Image: Getty Images)
The Egyptian has already collected the Football Writers’ Association and Premier League Player of the Season Awards. He has won the PFA prize twice before, in 2018 and 2022.
Mark Hughes, Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Kevin De Bruyne have also won the individual accolade on two occasions, but history beckons for Salah, as no player has ever won the PFA award three times.
Liverpool could have another prize winner on the night if Milos Kerkez signs for the Reds.
He is among the six players nominated for the Young Player category, along with Liam Delap, Dean Huijsen, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Morgan Rogers.