Mohamed Salah is ‘committed’ to long-term Liverpool stay, says former team-mate Dejan Lovren

The Egyptian forward is the Premier League’s top scorer this season

Mohamed Salah for Liverpool (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Former Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren says his old team-mate Mohamed Salah could stay at Anfield for a long time to come, due to the connection he has with the club.

World Cup finalist Lovren left Jurgen Klopp’s team in the summer, transferring to Russian side Zenit after falling out of favour. Since his departure the Reds have suffered horrendous fortune in defence, with each of Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip suffering season-ending injuries.

But at the other end of the pitch Liverpool have also suffered, going on a four-game run without scoring a goal and lacking their usual fluidity at times, leading to talk of a refresh in the squad from some quarters.

READ MORE: Premier League fixtures and table – all matches by date and kick-off time

There have also been rumours that Salah would be open to a transfer after an interview he gave to Spanish media and with Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge speaking in glowing terms about the Premier League’s top scorer recently.

But Lovren, a close friend of Salah’s, says he sees no reason to think that an exit is imminent and, instead, believes a long-term stay is the more likely outcome.

“I’m still in communication with Mo Salah. We are best buddies. We talk about everything,” the Croatian told TalkSport.

“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 [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?”

Salah still has two years left on his current contract at Anfield. He has netted three goals in his last three league games, despite the Reds’ faltering form, and has 16 in the top flight this term - at least three more than any other player.