Liverpool trio in African Player of the Year shortlist

CAF have released a 30-man shortlist for the 2019 Player of the Year Award that includes three Liverpool stars and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Mohamed Salah is now targeting a third consecutive African Player of the Year accolade after being named on the 30-man shortlist for the prize this year. He is joined among other nominees by team-mates Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.

The Liverpool forward look set once again to face tough competition from his team-mate Sadio Mane and Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for the trophy.

Salah defended his crown last year after scoring 44 goals for Liverpool and Egypt in 2018 and finishing as the 2017-18 Premier League Golden Boot winner with 32 goals.

The Egyptian has a good chance of completing a hat-trick after his 27 goals and 13 assists last season helped Liverpool win the Champions League.

If Salah eventually emerge winner, he will be the third player to have been named the continent's Player of the Year a maximum of three times, joining ex-Marseille star Abedi Pele and AC Milan icon George Weah. Only Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto'o have won it four times.

Your African Player of the Year Nominees 🌍🏅

Who'll win the prestigious award? 🏆 #CAFAwards2019 pic.twitter.com/vRhPh3IAz7

— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 24, 2019

Senegal international Mane and Gabon forward Aubameyang shared the Premier League Golden Boot award with Salah last season after scoring 22 league goals apiece.

But the Senegalese can shut doors of other candidates to the prize if he continue with his impressive goal-scoring form before 2020.