The man behind the headlines - Salah, by Klopp, Diaz and more

Salah & Klop

During the eight and a half years he has spent at Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has been beloved by supporters, who rank the 'Egyptian King' among the club's greatest ever players.

But since his unexpected declaration that he feels scapegoated by Liverpool for the club's poor run, having been picked as a substitute for three consecutive matches by manager Arne Slot, Salah's character has been called into question by fans, former players and beyond.

'You only have problems with Mo if he is not playing'

Salah's relentless intensity and refusal to accept lower standards from himself or those around him have underpinned Liverpool's success, and perhaps also explain why he has found criticism of his diminished role tough to handle.

"We are all massively influenced by our past - how we were raised, where we grew up," says Jurgen Klopp, who won every major trophy in English and European football while managing Salah at Anfield. "Mo knew early on [in his life] that he had to do more than others.

"He always developed. He never stops. That is his mindset.

"After each summer break he came back and had a new skill. It was like he had spent the whole time just practising one particular type of pass.

"We pushed each other, just to make sure that we would never stop. And we never did stop. That moment lifting the Premier League bonded us for life. He will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.

"I wouldn't say he is easy to manage, but he is also not difficult to manage. You [only] have problems with Mo Salah if he is not playing or you take him off."

Salah has been criticised by some for not giving more frequent media interviews before his intervention in the mixed zone at Leeds' Elland Road, particularly after defeats and poor performances.

He has been accused of demonstrating a lack of leadership. But he has often delivered calls to arms to fans on social media, external in difficult moments, and those who have played alongside him describe Salah as a man who refuses to give up and is capable of inspiring others.

"He will always be trying to prove someone wrong," says former Liverpool team-mate Adam Lallana.

"He is not macho. I would often tell my children about how he behaves, how he doesn't get too high in good moments, doesn't beat himself up too much in low moments. He would always remain completely focused on the job in hand.

"I would look at him and it would make me feel calm because of how in control he would be all the time.

"Knowing Mo, he will always be fighting, being resilient, and trying to find ways to better himself."

'He wants to be the best at everything'

Salah defended his record when speaking at Elland Road, and compared himself to England captain Harry Kane - delivering what he felt was a reminder to those inside and outside of Liverpool who have forgotten what he is capable of.

A level of arrogance is perhaps to be expected in all elite athletes, and some believe it has powered Salah to the heights he and Liverpool have reached.

"He is a really nice guy, considering the success he has had - being a superstar around the globe," says James Milner - Liverpool's vice-captain during most of Salah's time at the club.

"He plays as if he has a chip on his shoulder. He wants to be the best at everything - he even got a chess teacher to improve his game, and gave me a thumping a good few times.

"You need different types of leaders, and Mo is a big leader in that group, in terms of the standards he set every day. When you have young players come and sign, they see him and it's 'this is what it takes to be a top player, this is what it is to be a Liverpool player'."

That desire to always be the best became competition - fraught at times - with team-mate Sadio Mane, Liverpool's other flying forward who played on the opposite wing to Salah for five seasons.

"Were they best friends? No," Klopp says. "Could Mo have passed the ball a few times when he tried to finish it off himself? Yes. But on the pitch they supported each other, they fought for each other."