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Alexis Mac Allister has confessed Mohamed Salah is a "monster" in the gym and no Liverpool player can match his intensity.
Salah, 33, got off the mark for the new Premier League season by slotting home the fourth goal in the Reds' 4-2 home triumph over Bournemouth. Whilst attention was focused on summer transfers like Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike, the Egyptian King demonstrated he remains a prolific source of goals.
His strike against the Cherries made him the first player in Premier League history to net 10 opening-day goals. Yet if anyone wasn't shocked by his goal, it was Mac Allister.
The Argentine recently provided a glimpse into the relentless effort Salah invests behind the scenes to guarantee he's prepared to find the net for Liverpool.
Despite being seven years younger, the World Cup winner confessed he couldn't match the Reds icon's pace. Speaking to the Player's Tribune, the midfielder said: "Mo, he's hilarious.
"For a few weeks, I actually tried to get to the gym before him, but it was impossible. He was always there already, sweating. One day, I asked him, 'But Mo... when do you sleep?'
"He said, 'I don't like it when I get more than seven hours. I feel tired.' [I replied], 'You feel tired?' [And he said], 'Yeah, it's too much. You only need six-and-a-half.'
"He would be in the gym for an hour, and someone would say, 'Mo, are you finished? Let's go eat.' [He would say], 'No, no. I just did my abs. Now I have to really work out.'"
Mac Allister's remarks underscore Salah's tremendous commitment to upholding his remarkably high standards. They also show, despite him reaching 33 years of age, he could feasibly continue performing at the elite level for a lot longer, thanks to his meticulous approach to physical conditioning.
Providing additional perspective on Salah's fitness regime, Mac Allister revealed details about attempting to match the forward's core workout routine. He added: "When I first arrived, I tried to compete with him.
"I thought, 'OK, the guy is 31. I'm 24. Let's do some abs.' Damn, I think I did three sessions with Mo before I gave up. I would wake up the next morning, and I was so sore I could barely sit up in bed. Mo sets the tone for everyone at Liverpool. He is the best professional I've ever seen. He's a monster."
During the previous campaign, Salah recorded 34 goals and 23 assists across all competitions, helping drive Arne Slot's squad to Premier League glory. His strike against Bournemouth saw him draw level with Andy Cole on 187 Premier League goals and move to within 21 strikes of Wayne Rooney's record of 208.
Salah is also Liverpool's third-highest goalscorer, behind the great Ian Rush and Roger Hunt. The Egyptian could feasibly catch the latter, as Hunt is only 39 goals ahead of him.
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