Daniel Sturridge EXPLAINS what Mo Salah was doing in the tunnel before Liverpool vs Manchester City

Mohamed Salah remains one of the most fearsome forward players on the planet with his unique blend of goalscoring and chance creation marking him out as an elite asset.

The 32-year-old has been in scintillating form for Liverpool this season as Arne Slot's side climb to the top of the Premier League and Champions League group phase standings.

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Salah goal and assist

The Egyptian King made a huge impact in Sunday's table-top showdown at Anfield against Manchester City, providing Cody Gakpo with a quality assist before adding a penalty kick.

After being played through down the right by Trent Alexander-Arnold early in the first half, Salah found enough space to squeeze a through ball to the back post, where Gakpo was ready to tap home.

It gave Liverpool the best possible start in the contest, with Pep Guardiola's failing outfit on the back foot almost from the get-go.

Salah wrapped up the result with a penalty kick in the second half, ensuring Liverpool go nine points clear of Arsenal in second and 11 points clear of City, who are now outside the top four.

Salah routine sparks intrigue

But it was something spotted before the kick-off that initially started the conversation around Salah on Sunday afternoon.

While the teams were waiting in the tunnel and about to make their way outside for the fixture, Salah took his place as usual at the back of the Liverpool line.

When the Sky Sports cameras reached the forward, he was hunkered down in a state of total bliss, seemingly oblivious to the white-hot atmosphere enveloping the contest.

Sturridge explains Salah meditation habit

As Sky pundit Roy Keane made a joke about Salah perhaps thinking about a new contract, it was left to Salah's former Reds teammate Daniel Sturridge to explain what was going on.

"He's probably meditating. He does that before matches," said Sturridge, who was on pundit duties for the contest alongside Keane and former City defender Micah Richards.

Salah out of contract in 2025

No doubt the bout of visualisation put Salah in the right frame of mind ahead of the game, which he impacted immediately.

That said Keane did have a point about the contract.

With Salah out of contract at the end of the season there has been no sign of renewal as yet with Salah disclosing that he had not even been made a formal offer at this stage.

The forward is playing as well as he ever has - as we saw again on Sunday - and Liverpool fans will be hoping for a few more years of Salah yet.

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