While Reds fans might not remember him in such glowing terms all the time, they might be glad to hear from the lively Croat this winter. Speaking to British media, Lovren was happy to pour cold water on the talk of Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool. It was known that the duo was very close in their time together, with many believing that Lovren was a crucial part in helping both Salah and others settle in at Melwood.

What did Lovren say about Mohamed Salah leaving Liverpool?

Typically forthright and honest, Lovren held back very little when asked about his view of an exit for Salah. Various pundits have opined that the top scorer in the Premier League looks unhappy or unwilling to stick around – Lovren, though, sees a completely different picture. The Zenit St. Petersburg defender was asked what he felt the future held for his friend, and he responded by saying: "I'm still in communication with Mo Salah. We are best buddies. We talk about everything. Mo is committed, not just for Liverpool but for all the fans and for himself. He is the biggest critic of himself when he doesn't do well.

"I'm not surprised he is doing well individually when you look at how many goals he has scored, he is amazing at the moment.

"There needs to be love from both ways (both Salah and Liverpool), I see now that they have it, so why not [stay]?

"Mo is in the best age of his football career at 28 - maybe he looks a little bit older - but he is in the peak of his form. Why not stay another four, five or six years?"

So, for any Liverpool fans worrying about the potential for an early exit from Anfield, the words of a former stalwart and an ex-teammate should help to assuage some concerns. Lovren has been a figure of fun for many related to Liverpool for years; his authority and respect from that Anfield dressing room, though, shows he is no fool.

While things can change quickly in football, Lovren would unlikely be quite so forthright about his views on the potential for a move for Salah unless he felt pretty comfortable that his friend was staying put.