MOHAMED SALAH (£7.7m) was deservedly named FWA Footballer of the Year recently.
Stats alone could not do justice to the Egyptian’s incredible efforts this season but the fact he’s currently the Premier League’s top goalscorer and leading assist provider is a rather neat summation.
Liverpool’s No11 recently overtook team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.6m) in the race to be crowned Playmaker of the Season and he only leads by one so the pair’s friendly, mutually-beneficial competition seems set to go down to the wire.
As for the Golden Boot hunt, Salah has led the way for almost the entire campaign and has often been in a bracket of his own.
Even just a few weeks back it seemed a forgone conclusion that he would join Harry Kane (£7.2m), Alan Shearer and Thierry Henry in the exclusive group of goalscorers to have won the gong three times since the inception of the Premier League – the Arsenal legend actually won it four times.
However, Salah’s lead has partially eroded and he may now have to fend off a late charge from Son Heung-min (£5.9m).
The South Korean superstar, who has never won a Golden Boot, scored his 18th and 19th league goals of the season during Tottenham’s 3-1 win over Leicester on Sunday.
Liverpool’s top scorer remains the odds-on favourite having scored 22 but some bookies have slashed the odds on Son to swoop the Golden Boot to just 6/1.
As fate would have it, Spurs travel to Anfield this coming Saturday.
Naturally, Jurgen Klopp’s side will be favourites but the prospect of Son and Kane’s counterattacking threat against Liverpool’s high line is an intriguing one.
The Reds have utilised a well-drilled, high defensive line effectively in recent times with Virgil van Dijk (£7.1m) and company catching their opponents offside more than any other team this season.
In-form Newcastle weren’t able to build up any momentum against Liverpool on Saturday largely because they strayed offside nine times despite having just 34% possession.
However, the telepathic relationship between Son and Kane is well-equipped to test Van Dijk and co – on paper at least.
The England captain’s passing range means he’s always confident of finding Son, who is one of Europe’s best in terms of running in behind defences.
Spurs’ No7 has scored eight goals in his last six appearances and while Liverpool away is as difficult as fixtures get these days, the dynamic of the contest may suit him.
After this weekend, Antonio Conte’s men play Arsenal, Burnley and Norwich – if Son is within one or two goals of Salah come the last day he will certainly fancy his chances of making up the difference at Carrow Road.
Liverpool’s final three league fixtures are Aston Villa, Southampton and Wolves.
All things considered, Salah should still add a third Golden Boot to his mantelpiece come May 22nd but he’ll be looking over his shoulder at Son all the way.
As you would expect, Son’s strong finish is translating to hefty Dream Team returns.
The 29-year-old has banked 81 points in his last six outings, taking him to 210 overall.
Salah has produced a respectable 30 points in the same time frame but that shows the extent of the pressure being applied by Son as the season draws to a close.
