Mohamed Salah bombshell Liverpool interview will not be forgotten – but it should soon be a distant memory

In his latest column for the Liverpool ECHO, Andy Dunn looks at the performances of Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations, and why glory in Morocco could be good news for the Reds and Arne Slot

For those invested in the unrivalled insularity of the Premier League, the Africa Cup of Nations has been little more than an inconvenience.

But out in Morocco, an enthralling tournament has been unfolding and amongst the wonderful players at the heart of it has been the incomparable Mohamed Salah.

From afar, it has been a joy to watch him flourish, to watch him inspire his countrymen, to be free from the machinations of elite club football.

No agendas, no bitter punditry, no recriminations.

And no transfer talk.

Nope, well, none that has carried any sort of weight.

Perhaps that will change when Egypt’s involvement in AFCON comes to an end, be that after Wednesday’s semi-final against Senegal or a final against Nigeria or Morocco.

Perhaps that will change in the remaining weeks and days of the window.

But my guess is that it will not.

Salah has not just scored four goals in four appearances at this AFCON – his latest coming in the 3-2 win over Ivory Coast in the last eight – he has been Egypt’s talisman.

He has scored when it matters. It is what he has always done for Liverpool.

Sure, he has not been at his sensational best in the first half of the club season but his showing in Morocco is proof – as if it were needed – that Salah remains a big-game player. He remains a game-winner.

And considering their personnel issues, Liverpool will certainly need as many game-winners as possible in the remaining four months of the season.

Arne Slot will need as many game-changing options as he can possibly get.

Alexander Isak is out injured and the physical strain of a first season in the Premier League looks like it might, understandably, take its toll on the hugely exciting Hugo Ekitike.

Slot not only needs all the attacking weapons he can muster, he needs durable characters – and they do not come any more durable than Salah.

After his mixed zone interview at Elland Road and the subsequent fallout, there was a swathe of opinion that suggested Liverpool should try and get some transfer money for Salah. If a Saudi club is willing to pay a decent amount, Liverpool should take it, the theory went.

And it is not as though Liverpool have suffered terribly in his absence. But for Slot to deprive himself of this world-class talent when the Champions League is up for grabs – there is surely no stand-out favourite at this moment – would be foolish.

Despite being the most successful team in AFCON history – seven titles – Egypt have not won it since 2010 and are the outsiders of the four teams left in the tournament.

But imagine the spring in Salah’s step if he can fulfil his dream of winning this major title with his country.

Salah’s words of discontent – and the furore that followed – will not be forgotten … but they should soon be a distant memory.