As Mohamed Salah prepares to lift his second Premier League trophy aloft, memories of a close Liverpool peer who has long departed Anfield may resurface
Salah and Lovren
Mohamed Salah was emotional when Dejan Lovren departed Liverpool after their 2020 title win(Image: Getty Images)
Mohamed Salah's lifting his second Premier League title with Liverpool will be one to remember, though his last top-flight triumph in 2020 was bittersweet thanks to the immediate departure of a close friend.
The Reds have stormed to land Arne Slot a Premier League title win in his debut season, thanks in part to the Egyptian icon's 28 league goals and 18 assists. The accolade was sealed last month after a 5-1 win over Tottenham, and the trophy will finally be raised at Anfield on the campaign's final day.
Salah has experienced such ecstasy before, when the club's 19th league title was won in 2020 under the stewardship of Jurgen Klopp, but the 32-year-old's sorrow at close friend Dejan Lovren leaving Merseyside a day after league success, five years ago, could resurface after the clash against Crystal Palace.
Croatian defender Lovren made the switch from Southampton to Liverpool in 2014, and while he cut a rather mistake-prone figure during his tenure at Anfield, he became the first man from his country to lift the Premier League in 2020.
However, one day after this title-winning feat, Lovren would be shown the exit door, much to the dismay of empathetic forward Salah, who had formed a tight-knit bond with the centre-half during his three years alongside him.
"I don't know how to say, my friend. I don't know my feeling right now, but we are going to miss you. Especially me," stated the Egyptian in 2020 after Lovren's swift move to Zenit Saint Petersburg was sealed.
"You have been an unbelievable player and great friend to me. We are going to miss you a lot. I miss you a lot. I love you so much, and you have been fantastic on and off the pitch.
"Thank you for everything you have done for the club, and everything you did for me. I wish you all the best for the future and wish you have a great career as well and enjoy the new club with your family. Thank you very much and see you soon."
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - JULY 22: Dejan Lovren and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrate with The Premier League trophy following the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Chelsea FC at Anfield on July 22, 2020 in Liverpool, England. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paul Ellis/Pool via Getty Images)
The 35-year-old returned to his former club Lyon after a two-year spell in Russia in 2023, and is still playing with Greek outfit PAOK. Yet, it is not just Lovren's departure that may have slightly soured the clearly compassionate Salah's first Premier League win, as, due to the pandemic, celebrations and final matches had to be carried out without fans or crowds.
"This is way better, 100 per cent," Salah told Sky Sports when asked if this latest win in front of the Anfield faithful is more special. "Without Sadio [Mane], without Jurgen, without Bobby [Firmino] and everybody.
"It's more special with the fans. You have a different group now, a different manager, and it shows that you are able to do it again. That's something special.
"You can see the numbers," Salah continued, touching on how he has flourished under new boss Slot. "Now I don't have to defend much. The tactics are quite different. I said, 'As long as you rest me defensively, I will provide offensively.' So I am glad that I did.
"He listened a lot, and you can see the numbers. When you play in the Premier League, you have to defend, but I said that I can gamble, and somehow I can make a difference. My number of assists shows that you can create chances as well."