Mohamed Salah had a rollercoaster send off in his final game before heading to join up with his Egypt team for the Africa Cup of Nations as he played a starring role in Liverpool’s 4-2 Premier League win over Newcastle on Monday.

Salah, 31, had a first-half penalty saved before scoring two goals – his 150th and 151st in the Premier League for the club – as well as providing an assist for Cody Gakpo with an exquisite cross with the outside of his left foot.

Salah also played a key role in Liverpool’s second goal, passing to Diogo Jota, who then eed up Curtis Jones for a simple finish.

Not only did Salah become only the fifth player in Liverpool’s history to score 150 goals in the league, but his contribution to the victory sent the club three points clear atop the Premier League table.

However, Salah will now be unavailable for his club side as he now travels to join up with the Egypt national team for the Africa Cup of Nations – the continent’s premier international tournament and one which The Pharaohs have won a record seven times.

The competition is being held in Ivory Coast, but Salah believes that Liverpool have the quality to continue winning games in his absence.

"Everybody asks me the same!" Salah said after the Newcastle victory. "I want to win (the Africa Cup of Nations), I would love to win it.

"But without me, I’m sure the [Liverpool] players will manage to win games. We have fantastic players, m3ga at really good quality, they just need to keep the pressure away and just play their football. We have players who can play in my position, they can do what I am doing.