Banter Battle: Lovren Teases Salah Amid Carragher Jibes
15 December 2025
Banter Battle: Lovren Defends Salah Amid Carragher’s Jibes
Croatian defender Dejan Lovren, a former Liverpool back, defended Egyptian star Mohamed Salah amid growing criticism, especially from Jamie Carragher, the club’s former defender. Salah then found himself in a high-profile clash with Liverpool following remarks after Leeds United's clash in Week 15 of the Premier League. Leeds was Salah's third consecutive game starting on the bench, and the second in a row with zero minutes on the pitch.
Return, milestones, and a sly reply
Salah spoke after the match, saying his relationship with Dutch coach Arne Slot was fine but there was no relationship now, and that some people want him out of the Reds. Those remarks led Liverpool and Slot to omit Salah entirely from the next Champions League tie with Inter Milan. Salah returned against Brighton, coming on early in the first half after Joe Gomez’s injury, and he created the second goal for his side. Salah later posted a photo highlighting his latest record, becoming the Premier League's top contributor for a single club with 277 contributions, surpassing Wayne Rooney.
Lovren reposted Salah's tweet with a joking line: not good enough, mate, cover your winger, a sly nod to Carragher’s critiques about Salah’s defensive duties. Brighton match was Salah's last for Liverpool before joining Egypt for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Punchline 1: If Salah keeps this up, even the trophy cabinet will need a lending library.
Punchline 2: Lovren can joke about defense, but Salah is the one delivering the punchlines on the pitch.
