Liverpool have got their very OWN Lionel Messi

Mohamed Salah is providing proof - as if it were needed - that he remains one of the best attacking players in the world at the current Africa Cup of Nations.

Salah, 33, departed Liverpool for the AFCON tournament following a turbulent spell with the club.

Dropped by head coach Arne Slot the Egyptian King fired back at the Dutchman and other unnamed figures at the club during an impromptu press engagement outside Elland Road.

That led to a banishment for a Champions League game against Inter before peace was temporarily restored the following weekend when he played against Brighton.

AFCON therefore is a useful cooling-off period for the player and the club. And happily for Liverpool it looks like Salah is regaining his best form.

Salah starring for Egypt at AFCON

The forward has scored in every game he’s started in Morocco - three times overall - and looks a good bet for the player of the tournament award should Egypt negotiate their way through a tough-looking quarter-final and beyond.

The Pharaohs’ latest victory was confirmed on Monday - a hard-fought 3-1 win over Benin. Salah scored late in extra time to secure a two-goal win.

And even though this is not a vintage Egypt side there is certainly enough potential in them to win the tournament.

One factor of their play has been the way manager Hossam Hassan has got the best out of Salah. He is No10, captain and national inspiration - not a million miles off what Lionel Messi is for Argentina.

He desperately needs this AFCON win to put the silver lining on his Egypt legacy - having already led his nation to two FIFA World Cups.

And there is something of Messi in the way Salah is playing at AFCON too.

Egypt getting the best out of Salah

Against Benin - and against other opponents earlier in the tournament - Salah was used as part of an attacking duo with Omar Marmoush.

Rather than his usual right-wing station - where he hasn’t been at his best for Liverpool - Salah plays a more orthodox central playmaking role - drifting in from the flank to make chances and have shots.

The right wing against Benin was ceded to Mohamed Hany - who worked tirelessly up and down the flank in a wing-back role.

His sacrifices allowed Salah to thrive as the central orchestrator - and it’s clear at this stage of his career that THIS is how to best field Salah.

Salah needs to play more centrally

He is not the dribbler and presser of old; but his creativity and goalscoring instincts are still intact.

And if Liverpool intend to get ANY value out of that £400k per week contract it’s time to utilise him the way Egypt do - and the way Inter Miami and Argentina use Messi.

Liverpool have got the players; Conor Bradley and especially Jeremie Frimpong have got the skills to play as wing-backs - allowing Salah to push inside and play with Florian Wirtz behind a frontman.

Arne Slot’s staid tactics in recent weeks have left the Premier League champions crying out for something new - and Salah’s performances at AFCON may well point the way forward.

Salah is rolling back the clock for Egypt and it would be a huge milestone for the Liverpool hero if he could get the one big title his career lacks but really deserves.

And Arne Slot best pay attention to how one of the world’s greatest players could - and should - be used.

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