Arne Slot confident uncertainty over future of key Liverpool trio will not prove a distraction

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Arne Slot insisted he will be involved in contract talks with Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah by saying it would be “weird” if he was not consulted and shrugging off suggestions the right-back would be distracted as Real Madrid’s interest in him has become more public. The Dutchman is Liverpool’s first head coach – predecessor Jurgen Klopp’s job title was manager and he had more control, albeit without getting his way when he wanted to keep Roberto Firmino and James Milner in 2023 – meaning sporting director Richard Hughes will assume overall responsibility for talks with the three key players. open image in gallery Arne Slot is confident the contractual uncertainty will not impact the form of his players “If after the last game of this season is played then it might bother to me think ‘are they here or not?’ But my main focus is now the short-term and I think in football it is mainly about the short-term, especially if you are a manager.” Alexander-Arnold has attracted the interest of Real Madrid, where his close friend Jude Bellingham plays and whose need for a right-back is greater after Dani Carvajal suffered a season-ending cruciate ligament injury. That’s also what we see at the moment because they’re playing really well, put it that way.” Slot suggested he is keen to keep all three, saying: “It is a good thing that everyone wants their contract renewed but it means they do really well.” Slot also said goalkeeper Alisson will be back before Christmas.