Salah’s decision to move his Liverpool career towards the decade mark is a sign of continuing hunger for the game’s biggest prizes, as well as an act of faith in the management of Slot to help him achieve his goals.
Liverpool’s supporters will be overjoyed at agreement being reached, having made their feelings clear when Salah used rare public utterances to bring an impasse over his contract into the public domain.
When Salah used the stage at Southampton to expose his contract deadlock, it was only the third time in seven and a half years he had stopped to speak to reporters.
The first was in April 2018, the result of a promise made to journalists after reaching 40 goals in his debut season, then after the Champions League final win against Spurs 14 months later.
It was looked upon as a public exercise in getting talks moving, further evidence that Liverpool was always the place where Salah wanted to be. If that was the ploy it did not work immediately – but the desired outcome has now been achieved.
The Kop had already delivered its verdict with the banner based on his trademark goal celebration containing the message: “He Fires A Bow. Now give Mo His Dough.”
Now that wish, as well as Salah’s, has been fulfilled.
Saudi Arabia would have been fertile ground for Salah financially, but it could not offer the enticement of the biggest honours in the game, something he can still pursue at Liverpool.
Salah’s relationship with former manager Klopp looked strained towards the end of last season, including a very public spat at West Ham United when Liverpool conceded a goal as he waited to come on as substitute in a 2-2 draw.
He did not break stride as he walked past reporters but his words “if I speak there will be fire” did nothing to disguise tensions.
This season, despite a recent dip from his stellar standards, Salah has thrived under Slot. He has, at times, almost looked like a man on a personal mission to re-establish Liverpool as the dominant force in domestic football.
