On set: The behind-the-scenes story of Salah's surprise shoot

In one room – the Code Lounge – a crew from LFC’s in-house media team are busy setting up for a shoot: a special edition of Kop Kids, in association with Joie Baby. There’s little chatter as the unit focus on ensuring the set, lighting and cameras are all finely tuned ahead the record buttons being pressed.

Approximately 500 yards away in the Beat Lounge, a group of children from local schools are giddily readying themselves for five minutes of fame in front of the LFCTV lenses. In here, the noise is distinctly louder as the participants prepare themselves for what’s ahead.

Or what they think is in store, at least...

The 20 pupils are from five local schools - Alsop High, Notre Dame Catholic College, North Liverpool Academy, The Academy Of St Francis Of Assisi and St Francis De Sales Juniors - ranging from years five to nine.

The Red Neighbours programme have brought the youngsters to the stadium on the following premise: take part in a commentary competition for the opportunity to win the chance to meet Mohamed Salah at a later date.

The club-owned community scheme works in the immediate areas surrounding the stadium, with four key areas of focus: food poverty and education, the elderly community, creating a physically active community and memorable experiences for young people.

The excitement is palpable in both rooms; while in one lounge last-minute directions are being distributed by the shoot’s producer – Mark Volante – in the other, the kids run through potential lines to use on the mic.

Several levels underneath this, the electronic shutter rises on Anfield’s Players’ Entrance and a white 4x4 edges its way into a parking bay.

Only a handful of people know the identity of the driver, although for a few opportunistic supporters milling around the outer areas of the stadium, the trademark curly hair and beard is positively unmistakeable as they rush to the driver’s side of the car to grab a selfie with a certain Mohamed Salah.

He’s arrived in typically chatty mood. “Did you watch any of the matches last night?” he enquires almost immediately after disembarking his transport to a member of staff dispatched to greet him.

The desire to keep his presence under wraps is so great, the man the Kop have nicknamed The Egyptian King weaves his way up to a holding room going via a back door, an active kitchen, an elevator, and the boardroom before finally arriving at his destination.

“I’m excited, this should be fun,” Salah states in his ever-affable tone before being taken onto set for a walkthrough of what’s in store over the course of the next couple of hours.

The children haven’t been totally duped – they are here for a commentary competition and they are in with a chance of meeting Salah, although it’ll be much earlier than they’re anticipating…

“I just hit it? Are you sure?” the Reds’ No.11 queries as he tentatively nudges the sheet of paper he’ll be bursting through to surprise our young commentators with a tightly closed fist.

A trial run is greeted by the characteristic and endearing smile that’s won over the hearts of many in the last nine months after he successfully breaks through the screen.

Comfortable and confident with what’s ahead, it’s time for the shoot to get under way as Salah heads back to his holding room to change into a home jersey.

On set, the first two children are in place, microphones in hand, and they’re being quizzed by hosts Peter McDowall and Jason McAteer ahead of their big moment.

Behind-the-scenes, Salah watches on through a small monitor, listening to every word through headphones, before stepping forward to make the big surprise.

Throughout the afternoon, the noise of the 25-year-old smashing through the paper screen doesn’t dull with familiarity. As the day progresses, Salah’s entrances become more and more extravagant as he begins to add his own take.

And he’s loving every second of it. Absolutely loving it. “It’s great because the kids don’t try to be too cool,” he smiles as he sips water in the holding room. “They’re just happy letting their emotions out.”

That’s certainly the case as Salah is hugged, prodded (“I just want to check he’s real”), high-fived and even has his hair ruffled as the kids are dumbfounded in groups of two, one after another.

The astonished reactions vary – there’s stunned silence, there are audible gasps, there’s overwhelming excitement, there are shrieks of joy and disbelief, in fact there's even some hero worshipping, and then there’s the downright I-can’t-believe-this-is-actually-happening-somebody-pinch-me response.

Salah’s on set for two hours before it’s time for him to head off to Melwood to prepare for the day’s training session, but it barely feels like 10 minutes have elapsed due to the energy and enjoyment surging throughout the room. Time flies when you’re having fun and all that.

The disbelief on the face of the kids continues long after our top scorer has departed, many still trying to make sense of what unfolded.

One youngster perhaps speaks for everyone when he declares: “I love Mo Salah. Why? He’s just boss, isn’t he?”

It’s a simple yet emphatic statement that receives no opposition as a day that undoubtedly constitutes a memorable experience for all concerned draws to a close.