Liverpool might still be sweating over his contract, but Mohamed Salah is playing like he doesn't have a care in the world. At least according to some sources, that has not always been the case, dating back to his days playing alongside Sadio Mane.

Alongside Roberto Firmino, Salah and Mane formed one of the most effective front lines ever assembled. The feeling was that each of them elevated the others to new levels, creating a perfect storm for manager Jurgen Klopp.

On the pitch, they appeared to work almost as one, forging a telepathic connection. But since Mane has left Anfield, there have been one or two claims that he and Salah had an uneasy relationship.

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To the extent that this was the case, it rarely spilled over into the public eye. Mane would occasionally show frustration at not getting a pass — but Dominik Szoboszlai directed a similar jibe toward Salah after the Manchester City win, and nobody rushed to say that the pair are in any way at loggerheads.

Then again, Mane could perhaps be forgiven for having his nose knocked a little out of joint. After all, he only had one season at Liverpool on his previously favored wing, before the arrival of Salah saw him unceremoniously and permanently shunted to the other side despite a strong debut campaign.

From then on, it was a constant battle for equal recognition. Nor was this entirely one-sided — while Salah generally got the most plaudits, it is Mane who to date has come closest to claiming the coveted Ballon d'Or.

Salah is looking to change that this season, putting in the kinds of performances that have made him firm favorite for the award. And in praising the Egyptian, the ever-controversial Richard Keys has raked up some of the old Mane drama.

"Think about that - getting better as he ages," Keys wrote on his infamous blog. "There’s really no sign of him slowing down.

"He’s still doing all the things that have made him such a force down the years, but now he plays with his head up. Even Mane might enjoy playing with this version of Salah!

"Remember when I told you they didn’t like each other and I got buried under an avalanche of criticism for doing so? Turned out to be true didn’t it? But not until somebody in England had the courage to say it."

Keys ended his meandering point with a "shrug" emoji. That probably sums it up rather more aptly than he intended.

But for whatever reason, in his celebration of Salah, he has chosen to pit him and Mane against each other — an odd choice for a blog that starts with Keys lambasting Jamie Carragher for failing to adequately champion African football, but there we have it.

And though Mane did not need to be dragged into things at all, it is true that Salah is an even more creative force than ever for Liverpool. He requires just four more assists to tie the overall record, and that in a season where he is threatening to reclaim his goals record from Erling Haaland as well..

Salah really has found another level as he nears his 33rd birthday. And whatever Mane hypothetically might or might not have thought about playing alongside him now, it's clear that Arne Slot and the rest of the Liverpool team feel very lucky to have him.