Interview'My journey here is incredible' - Mohamed Salah on FWA Footballer of the Year award

The Egyptian has been a standout performer for Arne Slot's Premier League champions throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Ahead of the final game of the top-flight season, Salah has netted an impressive 33 times across all competitions, alongside 23 assists, which have come from 51 total appearances.

The No.11's fine form earned him 90 per cent of all votes cast from the 918 FWA members eligible, winning by the biggest margin this century.

"It means a lot to me to win it, especially helping the team to win a big trophy," Salah said of securing the prize. "I think that it's the first time in my career winning it with a big trophy. That's why it's so special."

Salah and Thierry Henry are the only players to have won the accolade on three separate occasions.

The Reds forward continued: "Yes, I know this! I always like to motivate myself and I always try to find things to just drive me during the season. Always individual awards are important to me, but the most important thing, and I think people see it, is that when we win the Premier League, I think that's my best moment in the club.

"Also, I believe if I'm not having that incredible season, it would be tough always to win something. I always try to be in shape mentally and physically to help the team to win a trophy."

Read on for the best bits from Salah's interview after winning the FWA award…

On realising the second time he won it that Henry had claimed it three times...

I realised that then I said, 'OK, I'm going to go for the third one!' I'm here for two more years, hopefully I can get it one more [time].

On having aims of winning the Ballon d'Or as a proud Egyptian...

I think it would mean a lot to me and to the people to win it. But again, I had a great season and if it comes, it comes. If not, nothing in my hand. I'm doing my best during the season, winning the Premier League with such an incredible season with that number of goals and assists. Hopefully it will help. In the end, we'll see.

On whether goals or assists mean more to him with aims of breaking more Premier League records...

It's just breaking the record of the Premier League and it comes in a season that you help the team to win the Premier league. This is so special because I had also my first season [where I] probably had more goals than that, but assists weren't the same. For me, this one is way more special, because when it comes to the Premier League, it's always so special when the team won something and you have also [an] incredible season and an incredible impact in the team. Nothing can match that.

On what his highlight is so far from his Liverpool career...

I enjoy every moment here. I had incredible years with Jürgen [Klopp] and now. I can't just put it in one sentence, but my journey here is incredible.

On whether the 2024-25 season has the potential to be the biggest of his career...

In my opinion, yes. Because when we won the other trophies, I wasn't involved like now. I had my numbers. I don't want to sound arrogant, but my numbers are always the highest in the team, but this one was so special because the numbers are really, really high than anyone probably in the Premier League. That's why for me this one is always going to be special. Coming back from holiday [last summer], all I think about is winning the Premier League with the club and [to] make the club win the Premier league.

I think I had that conversation with the manager. I told him – I was very honest with him – I told him with me, you want to win the Premier League, but I have to feel really comfortable with the way we play. And he was very honest and we had a few honest conversations. He told me, 'OK, I will get the best out of you. I will put you in a situation that you're very comfy, but I need you to provide numbers.' So yeah, I did that so well. And, in the end, we win the Premier League. That's why it's so special, because you come in with that ambition with a new manager and you just want to win it. You want to make it happen. But I think, I would be honest with you, I didn't even dream to have this great, great season; scoring every game and assisting every game and breaking all the records. It's incredible.

On what was so special about winning the Premier League...

I know how much it meant to the city and also when it's a new era, if we can say that, I want to prove that I'm still doing it now and with a different coach and with different players. I just wanted to show that I am still able to do it, and I think I had a couple of conversations with Virgil [van Dijk] and Robbo [Andy Robertson] and Ali [Alisson Becker] just like they know how much it meant to me, and Trent [Alexander-Arnold] as well. Because it's like I showed everybody that I could do it without any other player or the manager in the past. We all [showed that], not just myself, but I'm just talking about myself now. It means a lot.

On whether he knew from the start that it had the potential to be an incredible season...

No. I didn't know from the beginning but after a few games I started to feel the manager's philosophy and you start to see how smart he is, how much he works and how much he wants it. You start to realise that. In the pre-season he worked very hard and also we were missing a few players in the beginning of the season, so I was the only one [in the] senior group there in training early – we had young players. But then the season goes on and you just see how smart he is and into details as well. You then see that it could be a special season.

On his relationship with the Liverpool supporters...

They know how much I love the city; how much I love the club. Since I came here, I give them everything, every game, every time I step in the field. They know how much that means to me and that's why it's so special.

On his dreams and expectations for the next two years...

It's just to win the Premier League again and [the] Champions League.

On wanting to achieve more records and individual honours...

Hopefully! It all comes together. When the team wins stuff, like this year, an [individual] trophy becomes easier to win.