Mohamed Salah is hoping to win his first AFCON as well as Egypt’s eighth.
The Reds have slowly been finding their feet again in recent weeks, something that did not seem possible following Salah’s internet-breaking interview.
He made his feelings very clear and showed just how frustrated he was with his lack of game time, with his future still up in the air despite playing for Arne Slot since.
Who will be the biggest miss for Liverpool?
The injury list is mounting ahead of next week's match…
He will have plenty of time to reflect too given that he will be away from Liverpool until at least the new year due to AFCON, with there bound to be a few cryptic messages from himself during this time.
His national team coach has also revealed how he has applied himself in training since his outburst, and it might just be a telling sign of where his head is at.
Mohamed Salah’s morale is high ahead of AFCON
When Salah speaks, he is certainly ready to drop a bombshell, and that is exactly what he did, which worried Liverpool fans a lot.
No one wants him to leave and they will be hoping that he can apply himself fully to his national team and return home safely in the new year.
It looks like he is trying to do just that too, with Egypt manager Hossam Hassan revealing that Salah has arrived for training in good spirits.
“Whenever Salah’s performances dip with his club, he regains his strength with the national team and becomes even better, whether by contributing goals or scoring himself. Then he returns to his club even stronger,” he said as per Sports Illustrated.
“Salah’s morale in training is very high, as if he were just starting out with the national team, and I believe he will have a great tournament with his country.
“I feel his motivation is very, very strong. Salah is an icon and will remain so. He is one of the best players in the world, and I support him in everything he does.
“I don’t consider what happened to him to be a crisis. These things often happen between players and coaches.
“We’ve been in contact with him by phone from the beginning, and I met with him when he joined the national team camp. His focus is entirely on the tournament.”
Mohamed Salah could break his manager’s record at AFCON
How concerned are you about Alexander Isak’s injury?
Salah and breaking records are often in the same sentence, and he can smash even more while away at the tournament.
His manager Hassan is Egypt’s all-time leading goalscorer on 69 goals, with Salah currently on 61.
This means that he needs eight to tie with him for the record, something that seems a tall order, but if anyone can do it, it is Salah.
Up first, Egypt play Zimbabwe, with this a match where the 33-year-old could certainly get on the scoresheet.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
