Alexis Mac Allister says Virgil van Dijk not the strongest player at Liverpool

17 September 2023 , 07:28

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Virgil van Dijk is not Liverpool's strongest player (Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Alexis Mac Allister has snubbed Virgil van Dijk when naming the strongest player in the Liverpool dressing room.

Van Dijk is renowned for being one of the most imposing defenders in the Premier League. The 6ft 5in centre-back has muscled plenty of strikers off the ball during his time at Liverpool, but he isn’t the strongest at the club, according to Mac Allister.

Mohamed Salah has shown his ripped physique off during passionate goal celebrations over the years. And, unsurprisingly, the Egyptian spends a lot of time honing his muscles in the training ground gym.

Asked by Goal to name the strongest player in the team, Mac Allister said: “I would say Mo, or [Kostas] Tsimikas." Asked to expand on Salah, he added: “Oh, yes. He’s all day in the gym, so he is very strong.”

It’s not just at the training ground that Salah works on his fitness. In an interview with France Football last summer, he explained just how dedicated he is to his body.

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"Two rooms in our house are dedicated to different fitness machines, bodybuilding,” he said. “At home I can also do cryotherapy, there is a hyperbaric chamber. I am constantly looking to improve my physical condition

"It's true that I like to say that my house looks like a hospital, [but] my wife doesn't like that! [She] says that I spend more time with my machines than with her!"

Mohamed Salah has shown off his ripped physique in celebrations (Michael Regan/Getty Images)

Salah is also careful with what he eats. "When I indulge in a great restaurant in London, I prefer sushi,” he said. "I eat pizza once a month at the most. I love hamburgers , but I hardly ever eat them because afterwards I feel heavy!"

Van Dijk is no stranger to the gym himself, having spent a lot of time working hard to recover from injuries over the past few years. The Dutchman spent nine months on the sidelines with cruciate ligament damage and was hugely motivated to make a comeback.

"I want to prove to my team-mates and my club that I can be better or stronger than I was before,” he said in September 2021. "I would try everything in my power to do that."

Liverpool were without Van Dijk for their Premier League game against Wolves on Saturday, with the defender still suspended. With Ibrahima Konate injured, Jurgen Klopp was forced to play youngster Jarell Quansah alongside Joel Matip at Molineux.

After a poor first half, which saw Hwan Hee-chan give Wolves the lead, Liverpool roared back after the break to win 3-1 thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Andy Robertson and an own-goal from Hugo Bueno.

Felix Keith