Liverpool and Egypt forward Mohamed Salah won the Football Writers' Association's Footballer of the Year award on Tuesday, becoming the first player from Africa to take the honour.

Liverpool's official website stated that Salah beat Manchester City and Belgium midfielder Kevin de Bruyne by 20 votes, with over 400 FWA members taking part.

"Salah is the worthiest of winners. He is also the first African to receive the award and we congratulate him on a magnificent season," FWA Chairman Patrick Barclay said on the association's official Twitter handle.

Salah, 25, has racked up an outstanding 43 goals in 48 appearances and also has 13 assists in all competitions and arguably has been a bargain for Liverpool. The Merseyside club on Wednesday will again face Roma in the away second leg of the Champions League semi-finals.

In the 5-2 victory in the first leg, Salah scored and assisted 2 goals each.

Earlier this month, Salah was voted Player of the Year for 2017-18 by the United Kingdom's Professional Footballers' Association, an award that carries a special significance as it is decided by the players themselves