Trent Alexander-Arnold scored Liverpool’s fourth in the West Ham rout (Picture: Getty Images)
Arne Slot says Trent Alexander-Arnold sent something of a message about his Liverpool future with the way he celebrated his goal against West Ham on Sunday.
The full-back is out of contract at Anfield at the end of the season and there has been no announcement over a new deal or an exit just yet.
Alexander-Arnold is not the only Liverpool superstar in the final few months of their current contracts as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the same situation.
It was put to Slot that the Englishman’s prospects of staying with the club look more negative than those of the Egyptian or the Dutchman, but he was not so sure.
In fact, Slot suggested that Alexander-Arnold sent a message on his future with his goal celebration against the Hammers.
The England international scored the fourth in the 5-0 demolition, then made a ‘talking’ gesture with his hand to his ear, possibly suggesting that media reports are simply chatter.
Alexander-Arnold suggested there has been plenty of talk about his future (Picture: Getty Images)
‘No, I don’t think it’s negative at all,’ said Slot of speculation on the full-back. ‘He’s playing really well, scored a great goal and the way he celebrated his goal probably tells you enough. I don’t think I have to say much more about it.
‘I’m really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo and with Virgil. So for me, there’s no difference. For the outside world, maybe there’s a bit more things happening around Trent in the media than with the other two but I’m happy with all three of them at the moment.’
Arne Slot says he is ‘really happy’ with Alexander-Arnold (Picture: Getty Images)
The concern for Liverpool is that from 1 January, the star trio are free to negotiate contracts with clubs from abroad, but Slot insists he is not worried.
‘I think I have a lot of control over what they do,’ said the Reds manager. ‘If they’re on a training pitch, if they’re in a meeting with me, but talking about the private lives, I don’t have control about them.
‘So that was the situation I have a year ago. There’s been a situation as long as I’m a manager, but I have control to a certain extent over them from what I expect from them on the pitch and I’m really pleased to see what Virgil brings, what Trent brings and what Mo brings.’
Mo Salah was the star of the show once again (Picture: Getty Images)
Salah scored his 17th Premier League goal of the season in the rout of West Ham and was asked, yet again, about his contract situation.
The prolific forward said there has been little or no movement in discussions with the club and says he is only focussing about performing on the pitch.
‘We are far away from that,’ Salah told Sky Sports of being able to offer a positive update.
‘I don’t want to put something in the media and people start saying stuff, but nothing really has moved on.
‘Now I am focused on the team and hopefully we win the Premier League.’