Dejan Lovren has explained the reason for his close friendship with Liverpool team-mate Mohamed Salah – as he suggested Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos is overrated.
Lovren has developed a strong bond with Salah since the Egyptian's move from Roma to Anfield in the summer of 2017.
The pair regularly post images of them together on social media, and are often snapped together during training sessions at Melwood.
And Lovren said: “From day one, we felt this connection.
“We have been talking a lot, we were talking about private things and we have a similar background, a tough life from the beginning.
“And then with his normality, how he can talk to you and when you see how he thinks... we are good friends, coffee, jokes!”
Lovren was talking in an interview for COPA90's Fifa and Chill series, where he was asked about a wide range of topics.
Among those discussed were his comments during the summer that he was now one of the best defenders in the world.
“I said one of the best, I never said I was the best and I don't think I said anything wrong!” he said.
“Of course, my haters will always say that.”
“It wasn't easy to grow up where he was in Egypt without anything, and I had a similar thing in Croatia with the war and going back to Germany.
And when asked who else would rank among the best defenders at present, Lovren made a frank confession regarding Ramos – the player who injured Salah during Real Madrid's 3-1 Champions League final win over Liverpool in May.
“Virgil (Van Dijk) I would say (is among the best),” he said. “We had a great season last season, me and him, we reached the final of the Champions League.
“I would say (Raphael) Varane. I like Varane, he deserves a lot of credit, he doesn't get it as much as Ramos gets. I don't agree with that.
“Definitely Varane is better, this season and previous seasons. He won the Champions League and the World Cup. He should be the best defender in the world and they chose Ramos.
“I always consider Thiago Silva. He is really a good experience players, he isn't that tall but can jump quite high. He is strong.”
Lovren also addressed his critics by having another dig at Real Madrid skipper Ramos.
“Sometimes I don't deserve the hate, I would say,” he said. “If you look, Ramos has many more mistakes than me.
“But he plays for Real Madrid, when you do a mistake you win 5-1 or 5-2, nobody cares about the mistake.
“I'm quite unlucky in that when I make a mistake it's 1-0 and the game is finished!
Sagar_Madridista
287
He counts Ramos every mistakes... I thought I was the biggest Ramos fan but Lovren is even bigger😆
Sidc22
269
Y r u comparing yourself with Ramos ??
DevilsUnited
254
This guy should just shut his mouth. He is just another Kauris among defenders. He is not even best 3 in the current Liverpool team where as Ramos has been on top level for a decade and he comes every other month saying he is best in the world. Ffs you were one reason Liverpool were weak in the back line. Van Djik is making your defence solid and he us the only few of defenders out there to be compared best when right time comes.
Dimetri22
202
Ramos this season just shadow of his past. His performance are below his high standards. So Ramos is not best defender anymore if considering current season.This season Van Dijk is best defender.
welcome13
192
To be fair, I would rate him between the top 10-25 players for Lovren's position
_dpo__16
142
Lovren says Ramos makes more mistakes than him. He doesn't know on the big days Ramos steps up for his team. Ramos has a world cup he doesn't. Ramos has 4 ucl's he has none. Ramos is a regular on FIFA pro xi he hasn't even dreamed of that. Ramos has 95 career goals more than Lovren has completed slide tackles in his career ohh lets not forget Ramos has league titles[doggreen]
hahbdklnpy
112
ramos can make a mistake leading to a goal and later score 2 goals to back it up a defender with over 80 career goals someone who's actually eon the world cup and numerous other trophies this fool is not even worthy of being mentioned in the same phrase as the greatest defender on the modern era i.e ramos