Alexis Mac Allister admits the Liverpool dressing room has joked about Mohamed Salah's contract situation – and insists the decision is not his to make.
The Argentinian midfielder appeared on the Rest is Football podcast alongside Gary Lineker to discuss the success Arne Slot's side have enjoyed so far this season. He also opened up on his relationship with team-mate Salah, and how the Egyptian has helped improve his strength in the squad.
Lineker then got into the nitty-gritty quickly of asking about Salah's contract – a hot point of topic given that his stay at Anfield, alongside Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk, is still set to end come the summer. The Match of the Day host said: "There's a reason I asked you a little bit about those three – Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil Van Dijk – they're obviously all out of contract at the end of the season.
"Is that something players talk about in the dressing room because you'd all, you know, want them to stay wouldn't you?"
Mac Allister admitted that the contract situation has been a point of hilarity for the squad, but claimed that he isn't any the wiser to Salah, Alexander-Arnold or Van Dijk's decisions on their Anfield stay in comparison to Lineker or any of the Liverpool faithful.
He said: "Yeah of course. There's a lot of jokes, let's say, but at the end it's a personal thing and we are going to respect the club and him and all of them in whatever decision they make. Of course, we want them to stay with us but as I say it's a personal decision and I would never get in there."
The former England international also questioned Salah's personality from Mac Allister's point of view, as Lineker said: "You knew I was going to ask you about Mo Salah. I mean, incredible player, he's done it for so long, he's so consistent even on the days where it's perhaps not working for him, he'll end up with a goal from somewhere or even an assist.
"What's he like? I mean, you sit right next to him in the dressing room, we all know what he's like as a player, what is he like as a person?"
Mac Allister said: "Yeah, first thing, consistency is key and he shows it. He's amazing and when you have him, you know that he's going to deliver and get the goals and assists that you need, so that's why he's so important. Then, off the pitch, he demands a lot from himself and from his team-mates so since I arrived in Liverpool I think I've changed my routine. Before, I didn't used to go to the gym as much as now and that's because of him."
Lineker then joked that Salah's impressive abs routine was the reason Mac Allister had joined in on working out alongside him, to which the 25-year-old replied: "Yeah that's one thing!
"But the other thing is that he tells you you need to be a professional, you need to go to a gym and do these kind of things so yeah, it's a pleasure to work with him and I think he really helps the players around him."