Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah reveals surprise name who is pushing Lionel Messi to be his favourite Argentine player as he aims dig at Alexis Mac Allister

The Egyptian international spoke with ESPN about how impressed he has been with summer signing Alexis Mac Allister at Liverpool, while quipping he needs to spend more time in the gym, his adoration for Inter Miami's Lionel Messi, and how former Argentine star Gabriel Batistuta stole his heart years ago.

When asked how good Mac Allister has been this season, he said: "He's very good. Overall he's a good guy, he's trying to improve a lot. He needs a little push in the gym but he's really professional, he looks after himself; the way he eats and practises - he just needs to work in the gym a little bit more but overall he's very good. He does go [to the gym] but in my opinion he needs to go more [laughs]."

When asked who his favourite Argentine player was apart from Mac Allister, Salah replied: "[Lionel] Messi. I love Messi. He is. Messi is Messi; I love [Gabriel] Batistuta as well, I met him once in Argentina and got his t-shirt signed, but yeah, I love Messi.”

Since Mac Allister swapped Brighton for the Reds last summer, the midfielder has increasingly proven his worth at Jurgen Klopp's side. In recent weeks in particular, the 25-year-old appears to have taken his game to a new level and he is likely to be key as they try to win the Premier League and the Europa League, to add to their Carabao Cup triumph earlier this year. And Salah will of course be a key part of that success as well.

Mac Allister and Salah are likely to feature in Liverpool's crunch away clash at bitter rivals Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday. A win at Old Trafford will ensure they are top of the table going into the final six weeks of the season.