Until Fabian Schar netted a 90th minute equalizer, it looked like Mohamed Salah was going to repeat his last trick. He scored two goals to win a game 3-2 at Southampton last time Liverpool needed someone to step up and deliver and did his part of the bargain once more here.

The first was a right-footed finish into the far corner of Nick Pope's goal. The second was teed up by Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was excellent after coming off the bench. Around those two strikes, Salah also had time to set up Curtis Jones' goal after a good pass from Alexis Mac Allister set him away, and hit the bar from distance after some magical dribbling.

Those inside St James' Park were dazzled by his footwork at times. As he continues to climb the goalscoring charts, this was just the last shining example of Salah taking a game by the scruff of the neck. He knew exactly what was required of him and nothing - not even the very talented Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall - was going to stop him.

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"Every time we need Mo, he scores," Arne Slot told Amazon Prime after the game. "We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time. He was outstanding in the second half; he did many special things for us."

This was a performance that drew gasps even from the home supporters at times. Quiet in the first half, he turned into a completely different animal in the second — and it is fast becoming a pattern this season.

Only Caoimhin Kelleher's error, allowing Newcastle to level in the 90th minute, stopped Salah being spoken about for his genius once more. But it won't be long until it happens again.

At this stage, it is boring to even bring up his contract situation, though it is inevitable on nights like these. Yes, we know it would be remarkable if he was let go. And yes, clearly it would be a shock if someone with that much talent was allowed to depart at all, let alone for no transfer fee.

When he is playing like this, however, it is only natural that Salah's situation would be at the forefront of people's minds. After Southampton, he aided that himself with some pointed comments about his future that were carefully planted just after his latest heroics.

The contract issue isn't going anywhere. Right now, though, a different question can also be posed alongside it: is Salah, as we speak, the best-performing player in the world? After his latest three goal contributions, the case seems to be growing by the week. And given that is a reasonable query, the need for an extension only gets even more pressing.