Salah's true ambitions plain to see amid ongoing Saudi Arabia transfer talk
Perhaps lost in all the hysteria about the Saudi pursuit of Mo Salah, was the driving ambition of the player himself.
This is a footballer who - let’s not forget - said at the end of last season when Liverpool didn’t qualify for the Champions League, he was “totally devastated”, and the Europa League was a failure.
“We let you and ourselves down,” he told the fans. These were not the words of a man who was ready to go into the ‘retirement’ - as Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema amongst others have done - of the Saudi Pro League, where ‘success’ is reaching the AFC Champions League.
The world stage is still his domain, and with Ronaldo and Messi stepping off it, he is arguably the most famous, and certainly most recognised, footballer at the highest level.
Which is why his performance against Aston Villa at Anfield on Sunday spoke volumes. In the words of his skipper for part of the afternoon, Andy Robertson, his commitment to the Liverpool cause was evident for all to see.
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“He's the ultimate professional. He is one of the best players in the world and he lets other people do the talking, but he's always been committed to Liverpool and you saw that with the performance he put in, he was pretty special,” Robertson said.
“Mo blocks it (speculation) all out - and for us there was no concern - Mohamed Salah is a Liverpool player and we believe that is going to be the case for the foreseeable future. And Mo has reacted in the best way possible.”
Salah struck up an impressive partnership with Nunez against Villa (AFP via Getty Images)Importantly though, so too has the Liverpool team. Already they look a different team, with a new midfield that has energy and creativity, and will only get better as the supremely talented duo of Dominik Szoboszlai and Alexis Mac Allister learn Jurgen Klopp’s system.
Yet even more impressive, was a new front three which was led by the experience and sublime movement of Salah, and complemented by the pace, power and direct aggression of Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.
Salah scored Liverpool's third goal in the 3-0 win (PA)Salah, of course, was part of Liverpool's famous front three, alongside Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino which was the best in the Premier League for some years. And after the disappointment of last season, suddenly there is the promise of a rebirth for the Reds’ forward line.
It looks to have already revitalised Salah. His partnership with Nunez - which misfired last season - was devastating against Villa, and the penetration of all three looked a vicious weapon with which to terrorise defences.
Klopp certainly thinks so. He admitted afterwards he is excited by the line up he fielded on Sunday, and by the blossoming partnership of his twin pronged strike force in Nunez and Salah.
“Yeah, the partnership was really good. I really liked the line-up, to be honest,” he said after the convincing victory over Villa. “The two of them were outstanding, pretty much from the start like this.
“I’m pretty sure Mo told Darwin before the game as well, if a ball comes high, please deflect it, I’m on my bike. It worked out really well.
“And there were moments where the whole stadium was excited (by) two sprinters, they were like: ‘oh my God, there’s still a chance to get the ball’. So a perfect afternoon for them.”
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Liverpool are already favourites to win the Europa League. With this partnership, they could even challenge Manchester City for the title. There is the smell of trophies in the air at Anfield once more, and no one has a better nose for that scent than Mo Salah.
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