Contract situations of trio not a distraction - Slot

Image source, PA Media

Mandeep SangheraBBC Sport journalist

• Published13 September 2024

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has dismissed suggestions the contract situations of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah could be a distraction.

Right-back Alexander-Arnold, centre-back Van Dijk and forward Salah are all in the final 12 months of their deals.

Salah, speaking after the win at Manchester United prior to the international break, said "nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts".

But Slot said: "It's again the boring answer you are going to get from me as long as there is no news. We don't talk about contract situations here.

"Is it a distraction? No, it isn't because I'm fully focused on the individuals and the team.

"They are part of the team and I'm trying to work with them in the best possible way to get the best out of them. It's not a distraction for me at all."

Liverpool have won their opening three league games under Slot - who succeeded Jurgen Klopp in the summer - and host Nottingham Forest (15:00 BST) on Saturday.

They will be without attacking midfielder Harvey Elliott, who fractured his foot while on England Under-21 duty.

"Harvey's injury is, of course, a big disappointment for him but also for us," said the Dutchman.

"He didn't play that much in the first three games but he showed himself really well in pre-season. It's a blow for the both of us.

"If he had stayed fit, he would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures but now he isn't and that gives a chance to someone else," added Slot, who said new signing Federico Chiesa has trained "three or four times" with the first team and is contention to be involved against Forest.

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During the international break, Reds goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher said he wants to leave Liverpool to "be a number one" as the club looks as if they have chosen to go "in a different direction" by agreeing a deal to sign Valencia keeper Giorgi Mamardashvili next summer.

"I would be really worried if a player came out and said 'I don't care about playing first-team football'," said Slot. "That would be a bigger worry for me.

"It's normal they want to play but it's also normal that a club like this that tries to compete for trophies has more than 11 players who can play.

"He's shown many times in the past few years, and even in pre-season, that he's ready whenever we need him.

"It's a good thing he wants to play. Who knows if he'll play for us in the future. At this moment, it's quite clear that Alisson is the number one but last season he played many games.

"So, it's a normal situation for a player to be in if you're not playing - that you want to play - but he handles that situation really well."