Four Reds nominated for World XI but Firmino snubbed

Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Virgil van Dijk and Dejan Lovren are all among 55 nominees for the FifPro World XI, but Roberto Firmino has controversially missed out.

The votes of 25,000 players across the footballing world determine the list.

Salah’s place in the final XI seems almost assured after he bagged a whopping 44 goals in all competitions in his first season at Anfield.

He wound up just two goals shy of winner Lionel Messi in the race for the European Golden Shoe.

Salah was injured in May’s Champions League Final and whilst he was unable to recover full fitness for the World Cup, he still managed to find the net twice for a struggling Egypt.

Mane too has secured a nomination after scoring 20 goals, 10 of which came on the remarkable run to the final.

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LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Sunday, January 14, 2018: Liverpool’s Sadio Mane celebrates scoring the third goal during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

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The impressive partnership between Van Dijk and Lovren proved crucial on the road to Kiev, and both defenders have earned a place on the shortlist.

Van Dijk has seen his already glowing reputation grow yet further since his January arrival, while Lovren earned plaudits for his battling performances as Croatia reached the final of the World Cup.

However, the omission of Firmino has left many Reds fans bemused, with the forward having found the net 27 times in 2017-18.

Firmino, a standout performer on both the domestic and continental stage, also contributed 17 assists.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – Friday, January 5, 2018: Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino during the FA Cup 3rd Round match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC, the 230th Merseyside Derby, at Anfield. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)

Veteran midfielder James Milner also has a cause to field hard done by after topping the Champions League assists charts.

The ultimate XI, which will comprise one goalkeeper, four defenders, three midfielders and three attackers, will be revealed at an event in London on September 24.

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Source: anfieldhq.com