Arne Slot has no concerns about the contract situation of key Liverpool players, writes Harley Sheldon at the AXA Training Centre.
Virgil Van Dijk, Mohammed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s contracts are set to expire at the end of the season. This has caused concern among fans amid speculation the players could sign pre-contract agreements as soon as January.
Slot confirmed he isn’t involved in contract talks and has played down the situation indicating that while the players perform well, he isn’t worried and is happy for conversations to continue behind the scenes.
He said: “The contract situation will become a problem if the players don’t perform as well as they do at the moment.
“There are on-going discussions between what Virgil (Van Dijk) said to people he had to talk with and that’s not me as you know.”
Liverpool face Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday for the second time in four days following the 3-2 win in the Carabao Cup at the Amex Stadium on Wednesday.
Slot emphasized the importance of challenging on all fronts and is keen to defend Liverpool’s Carabao Cup success from last season.
He said: “Now we’ve won it and you probably tell me I put a lot of emphasis on this cup. If we would’ve lost you would’ve said if you miss out so many starters it’s a logical result.
“We want to win every game, and we want to compete for every trophy especially if it’s one we have to defend.”
The Reds boss made eight changes to his starting XI in midweek and stressed that his use of rotations does not mean he doesn’t see the significance of these games.
He said: “Both times I didn’t play our starters. Is it then for me not important? No. It’s really important.”
Slot is likely to revert back to the squad that drew 2-2 to Arsenal last weekend, which could see the likes of Jarrell Quansah drop back to the bench after starting at Brighton.
The young defender has had a rocky start to life under Slot. The Dutchman believes Quansah has a high ceiling but needs to cut out some sloppy mistakes.
He said: “I think Jarrell played a very good game (against Brighton). The only issue he has at the moment is, if he has a moment that is not perfect, it immediately leads to a goal. That’s what happened in this game, he was in my opinion unlucky.”
Alexis Mac Allister faces his former club again this weekend. He has assumed several roles in midfield for Liverpool, be it as a six or more advanced as a 10 where he often played for Brighton.
Slot praised the Argentinian’s versatility and is pleased with the dynamic between Mac Allister and the deeper lying Ryan Gravenberch this season: “He’s a player that I would maybe play in all three positions in the midfield. Because he is so comfortable in all these three positions.
“I think he is now in the moment he is our midfielder that plays a bit in between, so Ryan (Gravenberch) is always the deepest.
“It depends how dominant we are if he is the second 10 or if he has to be the second six.”
Slot confiemd Alisson Becker, Diogo Jota and Harvey Elliot are all nearing a return to the first team but none will be available this side of the international break.
He added the timeframe for a return of Federico Chiesa was unknown but confirmed the Italian would also not be available for Brighton this weekend or Southampton away.
