Dejan Lovren says Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is right up there with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Regarded as two of the best, if not the greatest, players in history - while winning 12 Ballon d'Or trophies and countless team honours between them - Messi and Ronaldo continue to have immense followings who claim their idol to be top of the pile. It is a 50-50 question that has no definitive answer.
Egypt international Salah needs no introduction at Anfield and beyond, either, having totted-up 186 goals in 303 appearances for the club - with 77 assists. He continues to perform at the top level despite the collective struggles this season - as 30 goals and 14 assists from 49 games in all competitions shows.
READ MORE: Sadio Mane's stance on Bayern Munich future amid return links
READ MORE: Fifth-place qualification rules if Man City win Champions League
Lovren was asked about Salah during an interview with LFCTV. He said: "We're talking each month every time, at least twice a week we call each other. We're really good friends, we tell each other some secrets, not about football, and it's really great to have a friend like that."
Lovren, who spent six years with Liverpool and now plays for French Ligue 1 side Lyon, continued: "You don't know how much effort he's putting into his body to be what he is. It's not just like that he's scoring every year 25, 30 goals.
"He's putting in really, really hard work. Sometimes after training I'm just sitting on the sofa enjoying, watching TV, and this guy he's answering from his swimming pool and saying; 'Yeah, let me finish my swimming session'.
GET INVOLVED: Does Salah get a rough ride with refs? Vote in our poll below
"Mo, you had just training in the morning! 'Just let me do it'. And then you say to yourself, players like him, like Ronaldo, like Messi, this is more than perfection, I don't know.
"There are not many like him, like Messi, like Ronaldo. He's playing for the last five seasons and scoring every year 25, 30 goals. Come on guys, come on. He's never injured, he's a winger, and he's scoring more goals than Harry Kane."
READ NEXT:
Jurgen Klopp set to move on from £136m Liverpool midfield that never was
Supercomputer predicts Liverpool finish in race for top-four place this season
Jordan Henderson speaks out on Liverpool transfer rebuild suggestions
Andy Robertson makes position admission over new Liverpool formation
Ten free agents Liverpool could target after club announce four departures
