Slot turns transfer saga into surprise Liverpool benefit

Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent AlexanderArnold's future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.

- RICHARD JOLLY

Real Madrid made an initial approach for the right-back this week, which Liverpool rebuffed before the Champions League holders could even make a bid.

But Alexander-Arnold, along with Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in the summer and could leave Anfield on a free transfer. The 26-year-old has been able to discuss a precontract agreement with foreign clubs since New Year’s Day and Real have made no secret of their interest in him.

Liverpool have maintained that Alexander-Arnold is not for sale this month, though in public Slot only guaranteed that the vicecaptain will still be at the club to appear in tomorrow’s game against Manchester United.

But Slot has argued the situation is not destabilising to him and can actually be beneficial as Liverpool, who have won 23 of their 27 games in his reign, deal with their superb start.

“Maybe it's even helpful, now you ask me,” he said. “Because if it is only about how great we are doing then maybe every week I have to have a meeting telling the players it is not perfect yet and we have to do better and now maybe it is also about different things [in the press] and not everyone is telling them how great they are, so sometimes that can help as well. But for me, it doesn't distract at all.”