When Mohamed Salah arrived to Liverpool from Roma last summer, no one could have predicted how easily the forward take to the Premier League. Another thing no one could have predicted is that the Egyptian would form one of the great footballing romances with Liverpool centre back Dejan Lovren.
A cursory search on Youtube reveals several Bromance compilations featuring the pair, with clips from both player's social media accounts giving us a pretty clear picture of their friendship:
The Croatian holds a mercurial place in the hearts of Liverpool fans, with the defender capable of titanic brainfarts on occasion, as well as spells as a competent defender as Liverpool's Champions League final and Croatia's World Cup run prove.
But does the former Southampton player owe his continued career at Merseyside in some way to his relationship with Salah?
Perhaps that is too strong of a statement, but through my biased lens I can't help feeling that it doesn't do him any harm. It is a strange match-up, presumably Salah destroys Lovren in training on a regular basis, even though it seems like the Croat is the alpha in the relationship, judging by the social media snippets.
Of course this isn't the first time a relationship like this has happened at Liverpool with Alberto Moreno and his much publicised friendship with Philipe Coutinho, the Spaniard doing his utmost to keep the playmaker from switching clubs:
I’ve said: ‘Brother, don’t go.’ But in the end, a player has to make the decision himself. He’s my friend and always will be. I don’t know what will happen.
If it was down to me, I’d love him close to me for life, always enjoying seeing him play football, which is a wonder.
As it transpired Coutinho, who obviously didn't value his friendship too much, ended up signing for Barcelona whilst Moreno can still be found on the Liverpool bench from time to time. You'd wonder will the same fate befall Liverpool's newest 'it couple'.
Fuck it, let's just enjoy it while it last. Love is fleeting and so is football.
