Mohamed Salah has hinted at how he is feeling at Liverpool right now after spending pre-season under new coach Arne Slot. 

There were points towards the end of last season when Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool looked very much in doubt. The Egyptian cast a despondent figure on the pitch - and produced disappointing performances which saw him ultimately demoted to Jurgen Klopp's bench.

His visible frustration came to the fore in 2-2 draw with West Ham United when Salah clashed with Klopp on the sidelines just as he was about to come on the pitch.

The pair had to be separated from each other with Salah later telling journalists in the mixed zone after the game that there would be 'fire' if he we were to speak.

Salah's changing mood

For years now, Salah has refused to speak to English journalists in the mixed zone. That comment after the West Ham game last season was a rare outburst from the Egyptian.

It merely sparked more rumours about a potential departure away from Anfield. However, Salah's mood has visibly lifted since the arrival of Liverpool's new head coach, Arne Slot.

The Liverpool No.11 has returned to pre-season in great form, winning several key fitness tests. He has also seemingly gained a new vigour and has been spotted with a beaming smile at all times during Liverpool's preparations so far.

After Liverpool's victory over Arsenal, Salah left even more hints of his changing mood, giving The Athletic's James Pearce a rare promise.

READ MORE: Why Mohamed Salah is not at the Olympics with Egypt. 

Speaking on the Walk On podcast, Pearce says he managed a rare interaction with the forward in the mixed zone after Liverpool's latest pre-season game.

“He [Salah] absolutely smashed all the pre-season testing that they did at the AXA before they came over here and he just looks really happy, that’s the other thing,” Pearce said.

“He famously never speaks to the English media, and I said to him last night because he scored, he looked great, I thought I’ve got to chance my arm, I’m used to rejection. So, I said, ‘Mo, any chance of two minutes?’

“And he actually said ‘I’ll speak after the next game.’ So I was like ‘brilliant! We’ll speak to you on Saturday then,’ and he was like ‘yes, yes speak to you on Saturday hahaha.’

“I’m not sure that it was completely genuine, but I’m clinging to the hope that we might get a few words out of him.”

Will Mohamed Salah sign a new contract?

Based on the way Salah has behaved in pre-season and that rare promise to Pearce, the Egyptian's change in demeanour has definitely cast a doubt about his mooted departure from Anfield.

Salah has just one year left on his current deal with Liverpool. Although negotiations have not opened yet about a new deal if he continues to catch the eye - it's a matter that could well be addressed.

There are few players of Salah's ilk in the current market who would not cost Liverpool a fortune. Allowing him to leave on a free transfer next summer would be a huge folly.

The natural next step for the club's sporting director, Richard Hughes, would be to sit down with Salah's agent, Ramy Abbas Issa and try to come to an agreement over a short-term extension.