And the loser...
LAUGHTER
- Did you lose? - I did.
- 2-1? - Yeah.
And it was 18-3, so now, 19-5.
You play until you win, that's the problem.
Ah, stop crying, you lost.
That's the rules.
Pre-season I think.
Even before, I think.
Who won there? Who won there?
Every day battle...
No, the question - who won there?
Can I just tell my story? Seven, eight-day battle,
but altogether, he was the better player.
He is the type of guy, what I am doing on the pitch - defending.
He's attacking. He's attacking all the time, on each point,
if you keep playing and playing with him he gets nervous and he loses.
I think it means a lot. This means more than the Ballon d'Or, I think.
So...
- Yeah, it means a lot. - It will have a special place in my house.
'Welcome to the LFC Table Tennis Challenge,
'we have the Egyptian King, Mohamed Salah,
'versus his good friend and World Cup finalist Dejan Lovren.
'It's the best of three sets, the first to 11 points,
'and you have to win by two clear points.'
2-0.
'And a big start here for Liverpool's No. 6.'
2-1.
'But Mo getting back into it.'
3-1.
'Previous winners of this competition of course include our manager Jürgen Klopp,
'so let's see what these two have on the table.'
Oh, my goodness.
'Dejan Lovren going for a smash, just missing it.'
The ball is heavy?
'He couldn't believe that one.'
Sorry.
Ah, unbelievable, eh?
You always win the first one, so it's fine. 4-3.
'And this really is as competitive, by the way, as it gets.
'Between two winners.'
HE GROANS
- 4-4? - Yeah.
'Very close opening set here, the best of three.'
Do we have any ballboys here?
'Of course they're great friends, these two.
'Oh, and Dejan Lovren edges two ahead here.'
Sorry. 7-4.
'It is a big lead so far in this opening set for Lovren.
'But he's let Mo back in it.
'You never write off the Egyptian King.'
What is wrong with the ball?!
Yeah. Change the ball?
'Dejan Lovren feeling there's a lead weight or something in that ball.
'He's gone for a smash, but Mo defends it well.
'Big finish - oh!'
I love this camera, this angle of the camera.
'Dejan Lovren is close here in this opening set.
'And he's getting closer.
'It is set point for Dejan Lovren.
'Look at him poised.
'Can Mo stay in it?
'No, he can't.
'And it's too long from the Egyptian King,
'and it's the first set to Dejan Lovren!'
Want to change?
- Do we change or do we stay? - I'm fine.
- OK. - I start.
1-0.
'So the boys are not going to change ends here,
'and it's a good start by Liverpool's No. 11.
'Mo Salah signalling his intent that this Table Tennis Challenge
'is far from over.
'Frustration for Dejan Lovren so far.
'Great shot though from Liverpool's No. 6.'
4-1.
Did you ever see this technique? Unbelievable.
'That is unbelievable, I can't think of a better word, Dejan.
'Magnificent shot from Mo Salah.'
Sorry.
'Just like the shots he does against the best goalkeepers and defenders in the world.
'And Mo Salah is flying in this second set.
'Or is he? Dejan Lovren senses an opening.
'Mo Salah, to stay in this challenge, has to win this set...
'to square it at 1-1, can he do it?
'Some nice rallies here, showing some lovely technique.'
Did he touch?
'7-4 to Mohamed Salah here at Melwood.
'Dejan Lovren refuses to budge.
'Mo Salah is getting close here.
'Powerful drive from Dejan Lovren, that one.
'Oh, 9-7, Mo Salah two points away from levelling the set.'
So it's out. 9-8.
Yes!
I'm not saying sorry!
CHUCKLING: Brilliant from Lovren.
- Can you say sorry? - No.
- I don't have to. - You cannot say sorry for this?
- I don't have to. - You don't have to.
OK, now we start playing serious.
'I told you this is competitive, folks, didn't I?
'Set point for Mohamed Salah here.'
Yes, come on.
'Lovren refuses to let him have it.
'Can Mo win this point though?
'Yes, he can.
'Can Mo Salah hold his nerve here?'
1-1.
'And the Egyptian King levels it up.
'And isn't he happy about that?'
Shall we do 21?
- 21? - 21.
- I start? - Yeah, you start.
'So, in a twist to the game, both players have agreed to increase the points needed to win
'in the deciding set to 21.
'We rejoin the game with Dejan Lovren leading 15-10.'
Did it touch?! Two times.
- No? - Just get the ball.
Ref! Where is the ref here?
There is three cameras.
It bounced, I will see it in slow motion later.
'There is a dispute. Quite clearly Mo Salah played a nice shot there.'
Hey, that was...
What?! No, no, no!
Yeah, but the ball was here.
- Please, ref... - Does it count?
Does it count, really?
But the ball...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it comes from here to there.
What are you doing? W-what are you doing?
I don't really know the rules, but the ball came to here, then there.
- Please, go take a book, read the rules. - I don't know, I don't have to.
It's out or again.
The rules are, if it pops, touched, and comes back to here...
No, no, really, it's counting for him or it's inside?
We can do it again.
We do it again?!
Yeah, because it was easy for me to shoot it.
Why... Shoot, score, then point, and then you talk.
Honestly, it was difficult or not - it was easy.
- Now you're taking my point, it's OK. - No, I'm not taking the point.
Let's go again, OK, no problem.
'I told you it's competitive! After all that they're replaying the point,
'with Dejan Lovren six points away from victory.
'Nice by Mo Salah.
'Lovren aiming for powerful drives, and he's getting closer, Liverpool's No. 6.
'What a rally this is, can Mo finish it off?
'Oh!'
You post!
'Off the outside of the post, Dejan Lovren curses that one.
'A couple of rasping drives from the Egyptian King.
'Oh, into the net. Mo Salah getting frustrated.
'Of course Mo was saying to Dejan Lovren he is the better table tennis player
'coming into this one.'
What I'm doing, what I'm doing this?
What am I doing?
'Two points in this one, it's getting tense as we near the end.'
Yes!
'Big point for Dejan Lovren.
'Three away from victory.
'Remember, in each set you have to win by two clear points.
'Neck and neck, this one, this is some rally.
'Powerful drives! Somehow Mo's kept that in play.'
YES!
'Oh, he's hit the net!
'Unbelievable!
'Dejan Lovren can't believe it, just watch this.
'He's gone for the spectacular finish.
'Ohh, deary me.
'Can Lovren regain his composure? Yes, he can.
'Two points away from victory.'
Oh, my goodness.
'Missed it, just.'
Yes!
'Match point, Dejan Lovren.
'Can he do it?
'Can Mo Salah stay in it?'
- Where is the...? - Touch?
'Dejan Lovren is the champion. What a match.'
This is there...
That's a lucky game!
- I love that, wow. - Good game.
I'm not smiling probably, but it was a good game.
- But this is a fake smile, I feel it. - You won it, you won it!
- It's a fake smile. - Yeah, but you won it, it's fine.
Now, we can show to the world who is the best in ping-pong.
No, no, listen, listen.
You won two games, that doesn't mean you are better.
It's fine, it just means you won today, but it doesn't mean you are better.
- Thank you. - Good game today.
I have to give it to you.
Thank you.
That's a fake smile.