'Shocked me': Journalist shares what Mo Salah did just before his bombshell interview after Southampton

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Mohamed Salah sent shockwaves across Merseyside this week as he shared an open and honest update on his contract situation.

Indeed, Salah was very open about the fact he hasn't had an offer from Liverpool yet regarding a new contract.

This was a rare interview from Salah who is usually very reserved and shy when it comes to talking to the media.

One of the reporters present for this interview was the Mail's Lewis Steele, and speaking on It's All Kicking Off, the journalist shared the story of how these quotes came about.

Steele says that Salah actively searched out journalists to speak to after the Southampton game, and Steele was shocked by this as he's been rejected by Salah in terms of asking for an interview on hundreds of occasions.

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Mohamed Salah actively sought out journalists

Steele shared what Salah did just before his bombshell interview

The journalist says that Salah actually asked the journalists if he could speak to them, which is a very rare occurrence.

"So I think first of all, the context needs to be explained that in his however many years at Liverpool, coming up to a decade, Mo Salah stopped in the mix zone just twice before Sunday. He doesn’t like speaking to the press unless he has to. And there’s a running joke that goes on that we always ask him to stop, 'Mo, have you got two minutes?" Steele said.

"And he always says, 'no, sorry,' and carries on. The only time we’ve actually had more than that was down at West Ham last season, when he said, if I speak today, that will be fire. And those eight or ten words made more headlines than, you know, a sit down for an hour with another player would."

But what’s interesting about this one, it wasn’t us that said, 'Mo, have you got five minutes for a chat?'" Steele said.

"It was him that asked us if we had five minutes for a chat, basically pointed at us, me and two other reporters who covered a club every week, and walked towards us saying, can I speak to you?

"And the fact that we don’t speak to Mo Salah, it made me feel a bit nervous, whereas speaking to other players, it’s almost like you don’t think about it. And you could tell straight away he had something to get off his chest, he looked agitated, he was smirking in that way that he sometimes does when he’s being a bit mischievous.

"There was a couple of questions about how the game went, but you could tell he wanted to rush through them and talk about the contract, because he had something to get off his chest.

"So after those couple of warm up questions, I asked him and then he launched into this tirade about the club and their position. And to be honest, it shocked me, because we don’t speak to Mo Salah often."

Salah has sent other messages to Liverpool

Salah is clearly trying to send a direct message to Liverpool here, and this isn't the first time he's done that this season.

Indeed, Salah has previously made similar comments.

Salah hinted about his future after the game against Manchester United in September, noting that, as things stand, this is his final season at Anfield.

Meanwhile, Salah also posted a cryptic Instagram message saying that he will never forget the feeling of scoring at Anfield.

Ultimately, Salah is playing a perfect game in the media here as he tries to get what he wants from Liverpool.

The main issue with Salah's new contract is the length of any potential deal, and, if that remains a sticking point, the attacker could leave the club next summer on a free.

Saudi Arabian clubs want Salah, so don't be shocked if some huge offers come in the near future.