As it stands Liverpool are set to lose Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah on free transfers
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Updated 08:34, 13 Dec 2024
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GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - APRIL 30: Chris Sutton, former professional footballer and football pundit before the Scottish Cup Semi Final match between Rangers and Celtic at Hampden Park on April 30, 2023 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
Chris Sutton has been talking the futures of Liverpool trio Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah
(Image: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)
It is credit to Arne Slot and the Liverpool players involved themselves. But the uncertainly over the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and superstar forward Mohamed Salah could easily have been a distraction.
And, while questions over whether the key trio will remain at Anfield beyond this season remains a big talking point, the fact that they are approaching the final six months of their respective contracts has not had a negative impact on the Reds' fight for glory on all fronts. Far from it.
Liverpool will welcome Fulham to Anfield on Saturday looking to open up a seven-point gap on Chelsea, who currently occupy second place in the Premier League. The match comes after the 1-0 victory at Girona in midweek, which ensured the Reds maintained their 100% winning start to the Champions League.
READ MORE: Mohamed Salah's private Liverpool ambition could hint at where future really liesREAD MORE: Fulham will be without five players against Liverpool as Arne Slot gets major injury boost
After Fulham, Slot's in-form side, who have won 19 of their 22 games in all competitions so far this season, will switch attention to the defence of their Carabao Cup crown, with Southampton at St Mary's standing in their way of a place in the semi-finals.
All in all, life could not be much better for Liverpool. But for supporters, they would sleep just that bit easier knowing that Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah, the match-winner against Girona, were all staying at the club.
While talks are ongoing between Reds bosses and the players' representatives, as it stands they are set to leave Merseyside in the summer on free transfers. That seems unthinkable.
Chris Sutton, the pundit who has been blown away by the job Slot has done since succeeding Jurgen Klopp, does not believe that will happen. But he also feels fans will not get exactly what they want.
"I don't think they'll all stay," said Sutton, who famously won the Premier League title with Blackburn Rovers at Anfield on the final day of the 1994-95 campaign. "We can't be surprised that Liverpool have been trying to get something done behind the scenes because it's what you expect.
"Letting the contract run down as they have done, with the quality of the players like Salah, Alexander-Arnold and van Dijk, should that have happened in the first place?
"Certainly in terms of Mo Salah and van Dijk, there's the age to consider. Clubs don’t want to give out long contracts to players above thirty, and I think we all understand that, but there has to be a balance.
"I think they’ll get Salah and van Dijk over the line. Salah coming out publicly and saying they hadn’t got over the line, tells you he wants to stay. He can’t hold them to ransom, and I think there’s a balance he’s aware of. So will Van Dijk.
"I think Alexander-Arnold will be the most likely to leave. I think from all three players' perspective, they’ve been waiting to see how they started under Arne Slot. I think they’ll all want to be on his train, wouldn't you?"
Salah told reporters including the ECHO's Paul Gorst after the 3-2 win at Southampton last month, which he inspired with a second-half double strike, that he wants to remain with the Reds and that he was "disappointed" that he not been offered a fresh deal.
The Athletic have since reported that the 32-year-old has been given a formal proposal to mull over along with Van Dijk, 32, and Alexander-Arnold, 26, who has been linked with Real Madrid.
And, speaking to spaceportsweden.com, Sutton continued: "So maybe there's an element of that and I understand that from a player perspective. You know, they loved Jurgen Klopp and performed brilliantly under him. A new manager comes in with new ideas, a new way of playing and sometimes certain players may not quite adapt in the same way or may not like it.
"It all seems pretty harmonious. Which is pretty remarkable for Liverpool at this stage of the season. I don’t think anybody saw Liverpool’s start being so consistent."