“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. Hahahah. Mo sets the tone for everyone at Liverpool. He is the best professional I’ve ever seen. He’s a monster.”

Mac Allister Lifts Lid on Salah’s Relentless Work Ethic at Liverpool

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has offered a revealing account of life alongside Mohamed Salah, describing the Egyptian as “the best professional I’ve ever seen” and a “monster” in training.

Since arriving at Anfield in 2023, the Argentine has witnessed first-hand the extraordinary standards Salah sets for himself, both on and off the pitch. The forward has already cemented his legacy, climbing to third on Liverpool’s all-time scoring list with 245 goals and signing a two-year extension in April that keeps him at the club until 2027.

Salah’s remarkable consistency since joining Liverpool in 2017 remains unmatched. In every season, he has scored at least 23 goals, maintaining peak physical condition that teammates often marvel at.

Inside Liverpool’s Gym Battles

In a feature for The Players’ Tribune, Mac Allister shared a light-hearted yet telling anecdote about Salah’s unmatched dedication.

“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,” Mac Allister recalled.

“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.’ Hahaha. ‘You feel tired?’

‘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.’ ‘No, no. I just did my abs. Now I have to really work out.’”

Photo: IMAGO

The midfielder admitted he tried to match Salah’s regime early on. “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!”

Why Salah Remains Liverpool’s Benchmark

For Mac Allister, Salah’s approach sets the tone for the entire squad under Arne Slot. “Mo sets the tone for everyone at Liverpool. He is the best professional I’ve ever seen. He’s a monster,” he said.

Even a rare dip, such as his subdued display in the recent Community Shield, is judged against his own stratospheric standards. At 33, Salah continues to perform at an elite level, justifying Liverpool’s decision to break with tradition and offer him a lucrative extension worth £400,000 per week.

Enduring Excellence of the Egyptian King

Mac Allister, a World Cup winner with Argentina, has played alongside some of the greatest footballers of the modern era. Yet he concedes nothing quite compares to Salah’s relentless discipline and preparation.

Liverpool supporters have long known the value of their number 11. For his teammates, that value extends beyond goals. It is in the example he sets, the standards he demands and the influence he exerts daily. Father Time may eventually slow him down, but for now Salah remains the embodiment of Liverpool’s ambition and competitive edge.