In March 2012, Shaqiri – who completed a transfer to the Reds from Stoke City on a long-term contract today – was coming to the end of his spell with the Swiss club having already agreed a summer switch to Bayern Munich.
A teenage Salah, meanwhile, had been catching the eye of Basel’s recruitment department and impressed further when he bagged a brace for Egypt U23s in a friendly against the Super League side that month.
Shaqiri was involved in the game, too, scoring the final goal as his team were beaten 4-3 in front of 500 spectators at Rankhof Stadium.