Arne Slot harassed Tuesday that contract points for a few of Liverpool’s high stars usually are not a distraction following stinging criticism of Trent Alexander-Arnold for his efficiency in opposition to Manchester United.
The England defender, linked with a transfer to Actual Madrid, was at fault for Lisandro Martinez’s opener in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at Anfield throughout a sub-par show.
The suitable-back’s sloppy efficiency got here throughout a long-running debate over his future with the Premier League leaders.
The 26-year-old’s contract expires on the finish of the season, which means he can now signal a pre-contract settlement with an abroad membership.
Spanish giants Actual have reportedly made a bid to signal the previous Liverpool trainee however the Anfield membership are believed to have rejected their strategy.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk and top-scorer Mohamed Salah are additionally out of contract on the finish of the season.
Liverpool supervisor Slot, talking earlier than the primary leg of his aspect’s League Cup semi-final in opposition to Tottenham on Wednesday, admitted Alexander-Arnold had carried out beneath his normal requirements in opposition to United.
“He is performed so, so, so many video games properly for this membership,” he mentioned. “Now it wasn’t his greatest, like for some others, it wasn’t the very best recreation.
“And we simply decide it up, begin coaching as we speak once more, as a result of these gamers know when you play 50, 60 video games within the season that every now and then you do not have your greatest efficiency.”
The Dutchman mentioned he was annoyed on the means the performances of his gamers have been assessed.
“If we drop factors, if Mo (Salah) misses the penalty in opposition to Madrid, he is distracted by his contract scenario,” mentioned Slot.
“If Trent has not his greatest efficiency, he is distracted by the contract scenario.
“In the event that they play very well, no one tells me, ‘Yeah, that is as a result of they’ve a contract scenario’.
“We all the time attempt to discover arguments, however 9 out of ten occasions the very best argument is the standard of the groups you face, or the sport plan the opposite crew has.”
Slot additionally mentioned he avoids the noise across the membership after Salah’s cryptic social media publish on Monday that includes an image of all three gamers who’re nearing the top of their contracts.
“I speak to my gamers so if there’s something that worries them, then they share this with me. That has not occurred till now,” he mentioned.
He added: “I am not centered on social media posts or what has been mentioned about us, as a result of when you try this as a Liverpool supervisor, you don’t have any life, as a result of this is without doubt one of the largest golf equipment on the planet and each second of the day individuals discuss us.”
