Who does Bailly think is the world's best player?

In an interview with Spanish expert Guillem Balague's YouTube channel, the Ivory Coast international revealed his affection for the Real Madrid skipper, who turns 35 next month.

Ramos missed his side's 1-0 win in the Champions League against Atalanta on Wednesday night but is working hard to recover from a knee operation in a bid to lift the trophy for a fifth time.

"My greatest inspiration has always been Ramos," declared the Reds defender. “I've admired him for a long time, because of what he does in football and how he keeps going at a high level.

“For me, he's one of the best players in the history of football. Everyone has an opinion, but he is one of the best, the perfect reference point for me."

When quizzed on whether it's Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's best, he laughed: “If you ask me, Messi or Ronaldo, I’d say Ramos.”

Bailly also spoke about the instructions Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gives to the defenders and admits he always analyses his own performances in detail after a defeat.

“I always play to my maximum," he said. "And he [Ole] will say to me: 'Eric, you're an aggressive player and the forwards don't like that aggression', or this and that. He's been a forward so he knows. There are many important bits of advice he gives to a centre-back, a lot to take on.

“We learn from him how to influence the forward, where to be, he gives us a lot of advice about that; when to make interceptions. The centre-backs need to be close to the forwards, especially a true striker, little details he tells us.

“To get over a defeat is not easy for me," he added. "Especially when it is unjust. You can always lose, one goal goes in here or there, but to lose by two or three-goal defeats and I suffer. I don't like it at all.

“I come home, have a shower and I go and sit alone. Then I look at the game, revise what happened. I usually go over games and various plays afterwards, which helps you think about why certain things happened. This allows you to get better, even though you're a bit miffed with aspects of the game. Revising helps you improve.

“What annoys me most when I'm playing is conceding goals!”