Fans staggered by Phil Foden nomination for PFA Player of the Year over Mo Salah

Phil Foden's place among the nominees for PFA Player of the Year has sparked a furious reaction online.

Many fans were staggered by the fact that Manchester City's slick attacking midfielder earned a spot on the six-man shortlist ahead of Liverpool's Mo Salah.

Salah scored 22 goals, only one fewer than Golden Boot winner Harry Kane, and was a rare shining light for Liverpool in an otherwise miserable season.

A number of fans pointed out that Foden had only started 17 games for City in the Premier League but was deemed to have done more than the Egyptian to warrant a nomination.

Another wrote: 'Foden is an amazing player but how tf is he in there? While someone else simply put: 'How was Foden nominated.'

One supporter was surprised by the inclusion of both Foden and Kevin de Bruyne, writing: 'Foden might just be the most overrated player in the league and also how was De Bruyne nominated, he was injured for most of City's long win streak.'

Despite the fact that Foden only started 16 Premier League games for City, he appeared in 28 matches over the course of the season and contributed with nine goals and five assists.

Salah notched 22 with the same number of assists and was a key reason behind Liverpool managing to make the top four.

City players dominated the shortlist for this year's award with four stars from Pep Guardiola's side nominated for the prize.

Ilkay Gundogan, De Bruyne, Ruben Dias and Foden represent the Premier League champions on the shortlist after the quartet led City to their fifth top-flight title.

Tottenham striker Kane, who finished top of the scoring and assist charts this term, and Manchester United star Bruno Fernandes were also nominated.

Belgian midfielder De Bruyne won the award last year having registered 20 assists for Guardiola's City during the 2019-20 campaign.

Only two players - Thierry Henry in 2004 and Cristiano Ronaldo in 2008 - have been crowned as back-to-back PFA Player of the Year Award winners.

City defender Dias helped to bolster City's remarkable defence during the current campaign, with the Portuguese defender winning the Football Writers' Association Player of the Year last month.

Meanwhile, Gundogan and Foden both dazzled in midfield - with the former's run of 11 goals in 11 league games between December and February helping City build a solid lead at the top of the table during the winter.

City starlet Foden will also get a shot at the PFA Young Players' Player of the Year Award with the shortlist for that prize announced at the same time.

Tottenham striker Kane was the man to beat in front of goal this season with 23 league goals and 14 assists for Spurs, who ended the campaign in seventh place.

Meanwhile, Manchester United star Fernandes was pivotal to the Red Devils ending the season as Premier League runners-up with 18 goals and 11 assists for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side.

The PFA list is slightly different from the Premier League's own Player of the Year Award shortlist announced on Tuesday, with Gundogan and Foden not shortlisted for that prize.

The eight-man shortlist listed by England's top flight included nominations for Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount and Aston Villa midfielder Jack Grealish, along with City duo De Bruyne and Dias.

Mount was, however, named in the Young Player of the Year shortlist, along with England team-mate Foden.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, Manchester United winger Mason Greenwood, Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold and West Ham's Declan Rice will also contest the prize.

Liverpool star Alexander-Arnold was last season's winner of the Young Players' prize, as Jurgen Klopp's Reds raced to the 2019-20 league title.