MO SALAH has stunned fans with his list of close friends in football.
And not just because a Chelsea legend was the first name he mentioned.
The Liverpool strike hero did mention five Anfield players past and present, including a “crazy” current team-mate linked to Real Madrid.
But Salah – who has given a bombshell transfer update saying it his “last year” at Liverpool – neglected to name-check the one star who Reds’ supporters reckoned should have been a banker for the honour.
Fans say the way the 32-year-old spoke of his pals is why “you have to love Salah” and everyone must “push for a contract renewal” at Arne Slot‘s Prem leaders.
However, when asked on TNT Sports to name footballing friends, the first player he talked of notched four goals and an assist in 13 games AGAINST Liverpool.
That’s the now-retired Eden Hazard, who was the star man during Salah’s 2014-16 Chelsea spell but was never the same after joining Real.
In contrast, the Egyptian attacking icon failed to say a word about Dejan Lovren.
The Croatia centre-back, 35, played alongside Salah at Anfield from 2017-2020 and is now with Greek side PAOK.
Salah did select five Liverpool contemporaries in Konstantinos Tsimikas, Andy Robertson, Dominik Szoboszlai, Bernabeu target Trent Alexander-Arnold and Reds’ skipper Virgil van Dijk.
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He told TNT: “Best friends in football? I have many ones…
“Me and Eden are very good friends when we see each other.
“We had so much fun together. But I’m close to Kostas, I’m close to Dominik.”
Salah added: “Virgil, with us it gets long because we’ve been together for eight years, so when we sit down and discuss it we always have an incredible time.
“We have so much respect for each other.”
And he revealed a huge difference in his friendship with the contrasting characters of Alexander-Arnold and Robertson.
Salah smiled as he said: “I like Trent a lot but he is crazy.
“Trent, you say something. Doesn’t like to talk but I love him.
“Robbo more talking, Robbo more listening. They both do what they want, it’s fine.”
Fans responded to Salah’s comments almost as one.
Replies included: “Lovren?” … “Lovren in tears right now” …”He forgot Lovren”…”Loven crying somewhere”…. and “Poor Lovren”.
Another supporter posted: “He is no longer close to Lovren? They used to be best buddies back then.”
And fans were also unanimous in their overall verdict on Salah’s enthusiastic words.
One wrote: “That’s why u have to love Salah both on and off field and need to push for a contract renewal.
“He is someone that will be a brother to everyone in the squad, that is why he is so loyal and close to them all.”
A second said: “We all love Mo and no doubts about that.”
And a gossip-hungry third fan suggested: “That Virgil sit down with Salah discussing their contracts must have been an epic conversation.”
