Salah failed to shine upon joining Chelsea from Basel in 2014, and was loaned out to Fiorentina and Roma, before completing a transfer to the Stadio Olimpico side in 2016.
A productive spell in Serie A convinced Liverpool to part with an initial fee of €42million for the Egypt international in June.
He has repaid that investment in fine style this season, scoring 41 goals in all competitions to help the Reds reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
Upon receiving the PFA Player of the Year award on Sunday, the 25-year-old was asked if he had been determined to prove a point upon moving to Anfield.
“Yes, I think from the first day I left the Premier League it was always in my mind,” he said with a smile.
“I didn’t have my [chance] in Chelsea so it was clear in my mind I would come back and show everyone my focus.
“I’m happy for the award and [for] my team-mates and what we’re doing in the Champions League.
“I think I left then I came back as different person, man, player, as I said, I didn’t have my chance [at Chelsea].”
Liverpool host Roma in the first leg of their Champions League last-four tie on Tuesday, and Salah is eager for a reunion with his former employers.
“It’s very special to play for a club like Liverpool in the semi-final and the atmosphere at Anfield is great,” he said.
“[I’m] very excited to play against Roma because I have old friends there.”
Quizzed about the team’s chances of progressing to a decider against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich and then coming out on top, he said: “We are in the semi-final, everything is possible. We take it game by game and I’m happy about that. We’re going to do our best to win the Champions League.”
