Arne Slot on the expiring contracts of Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold - 'Not disruptive'
Published 13/09/2024 at 11:02 GMT+1
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has said the situation regarding expiring contracts of key players Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil Van Dijk is "not disruptive" to his side's campaign. The trio's current deals expire at the end of the 2024-25 season. Slot said in Friday's press conference that his focus remains on trying to "get the best out of them".
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Arne Slot has dismissed the ongoing contract sagas with Mohamed Salah, Virgil Van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold as "not disruptive" to Liverpool's 2024-25 campaign.
The trio of key players have less than a year remaining on their current deals at Anfield, while Salah told Sky Sports after the 3-0 win against Manchester United that it could be his "last year" at Anfield, and that nobody at the club had spoken to him about a new agreement.
But Slot - while remaining tight-lipped on individual contract situations - has said the focus is to "get the best out of" his current players.
"It's again the boring answer that you'll get from me," he told a news conference on Friday. "We don't talk about contract news here. It is not disruptive because we work with the team and try to get the best out of them."
Liverpool have taken to life well under their new boss following the departure of club legend Jurgen Klopp in the summer, winning their opening three matches of the new season, including that thumping victory at Old Trafford in their last game.
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Salah has been a key figure in their smooth transition between managers, with the Egypt international scoring in all three opening matches, while Van Dijk has been at the heart of a defence which has yet to ship a goal in the Premier League so far.
Slot acknowledged concerns that momentum could fall away after the international break, and accepts that he faces a difficult task in Saturday's clash against Nottingham Forest.
"That's always the question after two weeks," he said. "But if you saw them play with their national team then the moment is still there. Nottingham Forest haven't lost this season yet, I think they won the last two games of last season too."
The former Feyenoord boss also spoke of Harvey Elliott's injury, saying it is a "big disappointment" to have the winger ruled out so early in the season with a fractured foot.
"Harvey's injury is, of course, not a just big disappointment for him but also for us," Slot said.
"He didn't play a lot in the first three games but he showed himself really well in pre-season.
"He would have had a lot of playing time in the upcoming fixtures but that goes to someone else. It's a blow for us and for him."
kelleher wanting out is "normal for a club like this"
Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher made clear his desire to leave the club as he searches for first-team football, and Slot said the situation is "normal" - adding he would be "worried" if the 25-year-old did not care for game-time.
Alisson has remained first-choice between the sticks at Anfield, while the club also agreed to sign Euro 2024 star Girgi Mamardashvili in 2025.
Kelleher's appearances for the Merseyside club have often come in cup competitions, but the Republic of Ireland international has always been a reliable performer when called upon.
"I would be really worried if a player came out and said I don't care about playing first-team football," Slot said. "It's normal they want to play and it's also normal for a club like this to have more than 11 players who want to play.
"It's a good place to be and he's shown many times 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, but it's quite clear that Alisson is the number one for this moment."
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