The Liverpool winger was involved in a public touchline spat with manager Jurgen Klopp over the weekend in an episode similar to that suffered while playing for Chelsea

If Mohamed Salah is to remain at Liverpool next season, there is at least a precedent for the Egyptian superstar to blossom into greatness after an awkward exchange between himself and a manager.

The Liverpool winger, 31, is regarded as one of the best forwards in the world and has written himself into the Premier League history books. Yet, Salah has endured an underwhelming season by his standards, compounded by a hamstring injury while away with Egypt and the pressures of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s farewell tour.

All of which came to a head on Saturday when Salah and Klopp were involved in an ugly touchline spat during a 2-2 draw with West Ham. The unsavoury scenes were exacerbated when Salah declined interview requests, claiming that if he spoke there would be “fire”.

The episode ignited claims that Liverpool would be better off selling the three-time Premier League Golden Boot winner in the summer as the post-Klopp era kicks into gear.

Yet, disposing of a player of Salah’s obvious quality is controversial and Salah has proven previously that he can emerge on the right side of the margins after a vitriolic quarrel with a manager.

Indeed, Salah spent a rotten two-and-a-half years on the books at Chelsea under the management of Jose Mourinho. With a price tag of £11million after joining from Basel in 2014, Salah scored just twice in 19 appearances in all competitions.

Salah’s tribulations from the time are well documented, as is Mourinho's brutal management style. And in May 2014, when an underwhelming performance from Salah saw him replaced by Eden Hazard at half-time, Mourinho “massively ripped into” Salah in front of his teammates.

"I think [Salah] was having a bad game and then obviously Mourinho came in and ripped into him, massively ripped into him," recalled former Chelsea teammate Obi Mikel last year.

He added: "[Salah] was in tears crying. We thought 'OK, he's going to let him back on the pitch' But then he destroyed the kid and then pulled him off. But that was just his mentality back then. But would Mourinho do that now? I think no."

Most players would never recover from such a chastening rebuke, especially not in front of their peers. But Salah proved himself to be the ultimate competitor as he moved to Liverpool not long after and became one of the game’s best-ever players.

It’s food for thought for incoming Liverpool boss Arne Slot, who must decide along with sporting director Richard Hughes what the future holds for Salah at Liverpool. Salah is about to enter the final year of his lucrative contract, and there had been speculation even before the weekend that he could be sold amid interest from Saudi Arabia.

It has since emerged, however, that both player and club see Salah as playing a key role under Slot. Despite the perceived drop in form, Salah is still Liverpool's top scorer this season with 24 goals in 41 matches, including 17 in the Premier League. He also helped the club to the Carabao Cup title in Klopp's final season, though hopes in the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League have been dashed.

Even so if history is to repeat, perhaps Salah can replicate a reinvigoration next season as Liverpool begin the heady task of life after Klopp.