On tour with Mohamed Salah: LEWIS STEELE tracked Liverpool star to Morocco - this is the change he noticed in the Egyptian behind the scenes at AFCON, and how Salah's allies think Arne Slot can end the pair's civil war as Saudi clubs loom

Every minute since he touched down in Morocco for the Africa Cup of Nations, Mohamed Salah has felt something he has missed for the last month: a bit of love.

Love from his manager, Hossam Hassan, who told us on Sunday that the 33-year-old was an ‘icon and one of the best in the world’. Love, also, from CAF, the African football federation, who have plastered posters of his face all over the country to promote this tournament.

Love from the locals here, too, who flocked to get a glance of the most recognisable Arab in the world and greatest African footballer of all time. Daily Mail Sport may not understand the local dialect but the word ‘Salah’ was heard all over, from taxi radios to beach bar eavesdropping.

And most importantly, love from the Egyptians. It is hard to put into words how intense the adoration for him is back home. No British sportsperson has ever got close, maybe due to club loyalties or personality faults. Salah is royalty, as his ‘Egyptian King’ nickname suggests.

A lack of love was what started the public war of words between Salah and his club boss, Arne Slot , who, in the eyes of some, has mismanaged the forward to the point that he felt he needed to address it head-on with explosive comments he has since apologised for.

That apology saw him reinstated to the Liverpool squad after being dropped for a match and Slot publicly insisted that he had ‘moved on’ from the saga. And that was that. Or so they say.

Mohamed Salah was back on a football pitch and doing what he does best on Monday night, starting a game for the first time in exactly a month as Egypt took on Zimbabwe in Agadir

He showed exactly what Liverpool boss Arne Slot has been missing. A bit of creative ingenuity, someone who can win games on his own, a footballing genius

A lack of love was what started the public war of words between Salah and Slot who, in the eyes of some, has mismanaged the forward

Plenty here in Africa have suggested the tensions are far from over and Saudi Arabian clubs remain on red alert ready to pounce should they get any sniff that Salah wants out of Liverpool. January is unlikely but a move in the summer, many believe, will be something to keep an eye on.

Richard Hughes, Liverpool's sporting director, is expected to meet Salah’s agent Ramy Abbas while he is away. The Colombian lawyer, who has a long-term relationship with Salah after a chance meeting in a hotel, does not do phone calls, he is all about face-to-face showdowns.

Now, though, the best thing for all parties is that Salah is back on a football pitch. On Monday night, at the end of a beautiful sunny day in Agadir, the 33-year-old started a game for the first time in exactly a month. Save for injury and the off-season, when did that last happen?

He showed exactly what Slot has been missing, too. A bit of creative ingenuity, someone who can win games on his own, a footballing genius. OK, he has been below par this term and this too was not his best-ever performance – but it was Salah doing what he does best.

The Pharoahs, for what it is worth, were on course for a disappointing draw against Zimbabwe in Stade Adrar after Manchester City’s forgotten man Omar Marmoush had brought them level. Then, in the 91st minute, Salah won the game. How often has he done that?

With Alexander Isak ruled out for several months at least, Liverpool could do with their star man – and he is still that – back soon. The AFCON final is not until January 18, so patience is needed – but it could not have come at a worse time for the Reds, with Cody Gakpo also out.

Though he is idolised, Salah is not exempt from criticism in his homeland. Indeed, during the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, he was hammered for going home early with an injury. The Egyptians believed he should have stayed in Abijdan and recovered with the team.

His presence always has an impact. In the mixed zone after the Zimbabwe match, the buzz when Salah walked through felt similar to a music star sauntering past their most devoted fans.

It is hard to put into words how intense the adoration for Salah is back in Egypt. No British sportsperson has ever got close

Though he is idolised, Salah is not exempt from criticism in his homeland. Indeed, during the last AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, he was hammered for going home early with an injury

He wore a wide grin on his face in the mixed zone after the win over Zimbabwe. We haven't seen too much of Salah smiling at Liverpool of late

This time, though, he was not for stopping and told Daily Mail Sport when asked for a chat: ‘No, no, no, it is only the first game (of the tournament)!’ He said it politely and with a cheeky grin on his face.

We have not seen too much of that recently, Salah smiling. As one of the greatest imports of the Premier League era, it should warm the hearts of many to see (although rival fans were loving the meltdown – he, after all, has tormented their team for years).

‘My wishes are for Salah to stay at Liverpool, to leave through the front door and achieve more achievements and records,' Hany Ramzy, an ex-Egypt international who won 123 caps at centre back, tells us. 'And I think this is what Salah wishes for, but this will not happen until the ice wall between him and Slot is melted.

‘Salah is the most important player and everyone was supporting him. Some see what happened as a bad omen before the AFCON and believe the situation could negatively impact Egypt's chances.

‘But others see it as an opportunity for Salah to shine in the tournament and prove that what is happening at Liverpool is not due to a decline in Salah's performance, but rather to the poor performance of the manager.’

In fact, speak to anyone in Egypt and they will tell you how Slot is firmly in the wrong. ‘Slot is small minded,’ was how Ismael Mahmoud, the best journalist covering Egyptian football, put it when we asked for his opinion.

Salah’s immediate focus, though, is not that dispute but getting his hands on the AFCON trophy for the first time. Egypt are the most successful team in the tournament’s history but they have never tasted glory in the Salah era.

Morocco is a football-mad nation where pump 10 at a petrol station here was renamed to ‘Brahim Diaz 10’ after he scored their first goal against Comoros on Sunday. It is all they are talking about – but some locals fear that weight of pressure and expectation could be too much.

Despite all the noise, Salah’s immediate focus is getting his hands on the AFCON trophy for the first time

Salah has a strong relationship with Egypt boss Hossam Hassan. 'Salah ⁠will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world,' says the 59-year-old

That pressure was felt in a bar on Agadir’s beach on Sunday and if it does weigh too heavy, it will open the door to Egypt and Salah to take glory. Like Lionel Messi and Argentina, Salah carries his national team but is often let down.

We know how the Messi story ended, with Argentina becoming champions of the world in Qatar after a Copa America triumph a year earlier.

No one is suggesting Salah can fire Egypt to world glory in New Jersey next summer – but to be a king of this football-mad continent is top of his bucket list.

Hassan, the Egypt boss, told media this week: ‘Salah’s morale in training is ​very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team! I believe he will have a great tournament with his country. Salah ⁠will remain an icon and one of the best players in the world.

‘There was constant communication with Mohamed during what I don’t want to call a crisis, because any player ‌can have a difference of opinion with his coach at his ⁠club.

‘The same situation happened with Salah when he went through a period of not scoring goals with ‌Liverpool. Then he returned to the right path through the national team, and as a result, he came back at an even better level than before.’

It has been a tough month for Salah, who has had to get used to spending time on the subs' bench at Liverpool for the first time

But Liverpool remain in his heart - as his customised shin-pad for the Zimbabwe game (pictured) highlighted

On this showing, he is better than he has been for some time - with a last-gasp goal and a creative display. Not perfect but a constant danger, playing in a slightly more central role and dropping deep to influence proceedings.

His passion for Egypt is unquestioned but, despite the club tensions not being fully over yet, do not forget just how much he loves Liverpool Football Club.

His customised shin-pad highlighted that: an Egyptian flag on one leg, a ‘welcome to Anfield’ sign on the other. Both are in his heart.

It has been a tough month for Salah but Monday night here in Agadir proved why, despite all the bluster, he is still the main man. For club and for country.