The news around Liverpool this week has been dominated by a bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid but are the trio out of contract becoming a problem for the Reds?
The news around Liverpool this week has been dominated by a bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid but are the trio out of contract becoming a problem for the Reds? The news around Liverpool this week has been dominated by a bid for Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid but are the trio out of contract becoming a problem for the Reds?
Arne Slot insists Liverpool’s contract drama is helpful rather than a distraction.
The Reds take on bitter rivals Manchester United on Sunday as they look to continue their Premier League title charge. But the week has been dominated by news that Real Madrid want to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold this month.
Star players Alexander-Arnold, Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract in the summer and their futures has been as big a topic as the Reds’ stunning season so far. But Slot believes the talk about the trio is helping play down any hype about his players’ performances.
He said: “Maybe it’s even helpful now you ask me. Because if it is only about how great we are doing then maybe every week I have to have a meeting telling the players it is not perfect yet and we have to do better and now maybe it is also about different things [in the press].
“Not everyone is telling them how great they are, so sometimes that can help as well. But for me it doesn’t distract at all, I think we get enough credit for the way we play and here in the building we don’t even talk about this [speculation].
“Maybe in the building we do, but me with the players, we don’t talk about these situations.” Alexander-Arnold, 26, will go in front of the Anfield crowd on Sunday for the first time since Real’s move was made public but Slot is not fearing a bad reaction from supporters.
He said: “I don’t think I need to tell our fans how to react because they have always been so supportive and have been supporting their team and their players for so, so many years. So I don’t think they need me to tell them how to react and I fully trust them that they will react in the right manner.”
(
Image:
CameraSport via Getty Images)
Slot has no concerns over Alexander-Arnold’s focus ahead of the huge clash at Anfield, either. He added: “I am convinced that he is playing for us on Sunday and it is so difficult in football to talk about what happens in a month or in six months. So in football, such a difficult question to answer because there is hardly any long term in football, especially not for a manager so your only focus is on the short term.
“The only thing I do know is that he is fully focused and ready to play for us on Sunday and as long as he is here.”
Join our new WhatsApp communityand receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Learn more
Sky has slashed the price of its Sky Sports, Sky Stream, Sky TV and Netflix bundle in an unbeatable new deal that saves £240 and includes 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Mirror – Sport