And as he posed for a photo laughing at the sleeping midfielder, Salah’s smart new haircut was on show for all to see.

In 2019, Salah stunned fans by shaving off his beard then in 2020 he went for a slick back-and-sides fade.

But the 2022 New Year New Mo saw the curls tidied up and the beard trimmed for the delayed continental tournament.

Egypt talisman and captain Salah – who has 23 goals in 26 appearances for the Reds this season – will be hoping to help his country go all the way in Cameroon and win a record-extending eighth AFCON crown.

The Pharaohs kick off their campaign against Nigeria on January 11 before facing Sudan and Guinea-Bissau in Group D.

Salah and Trezeguet were not the only Premier League stars to put club loyalty aside on their travels to Cameroon.

Just hours after Sadio Mane escaped a red card at Stamford Bridge, he was sat next to Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy in a private jet.

But it might have been an awkward flight – with the Blues stopper insisting his Senegal ‘brother’ should have been sent off for his elbow on Cesar Azpilicueta.

Salah, Mendy and Mane were all included in SunSport’s best AFCON XI – which featured nine Premier League stars in total.

Mendy was in goal with Manchester United defender Eric Bailly and Romain Saiss of Wolves joining PSG ace Achraf Hakimi and Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly.

The sitting midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Thomas Partey provided the protection, allowing Salah and Mane to cause chaos in attack with Riyad Mahrez and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.