Liverpool's Arne Slot unfazed by contract situations of key players
What's the story
Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, has downplayed concerns regarding the contract situations of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.
All three players are in the final year of their contracts with the club.
Despite this uncertainty, Slot insists that these pending contract renewals are not a distraction for him or the team.
Here are further details.
Manager's perspective
Slot's focus remains on team performance
Slot emphasized his focus on the team and individual players, stating, "Is it a distraction? No, it isn't because I'm fully focused on the individuals and the team," said the Dutchman in a press conference.
"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."
Salah
Salah says no talks over new Liverpool deal
After Liverpool's 3-0 win over Manchester United, Salah had said it is his "last year" at Liverpool and that nobody at the club has talked to him about a new contract.
"I was coming to the game, I was saying, 'look, it could be the last time'," he told Sky Sports.
"Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, 'OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season."
Team update
Liverpool face setback with Elliott's injury
In other news, Liverpool will be missing Harvey Elliott in their upcoming match against Nottingham Forest due to a foot fracture he sustained while playing for England Under-21.
Slot expressed disappointment over this setback but remains optimistic about new opportunities for other players.
He also confirmed that new signing Federico Chiesa is in contention to be involved against Forest after training with the first team several times.
Information
Liverpool have started strongly under Slot
Liverpool and Manchester City are the two sides with three successive wins in the Premier League 2024-25 season. Both sides have a goal difference of +7. However, Liverpool are the only side not to concede a goal.
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Slot has made history for the Reds
As per Opta, following the Reds' win against Manchester United, Liverpool's Slot became the first manager to win each of his first three Premier League games without conceding a single goal since the late Sven-Goran Eriksson at Manchester City in 2007.