Liverpool boss Arne Slot admits he has no control over expiring stars’ futures
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Arne Slot said he “cannot control” the private lives of Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold after the trio played their final Liverpool match before they become free to negotiate with other clubs. West Ham were routed 5-0 at the London Stadium to send Slot’s side eight points clear at the top of the Premier League with Salah and Alexander-Arnold amongst five different scorers.
All three players will be able to enter talks with foreign clubs as of January 1 as their contracts move into their final six months, with no sign of deals imminent, whilst Salah told Sky Sports “we are far away” when asked if there was any good news imminent on his contract talks.
“I think I have a lot of control over what they do if they’re on the training pitch, if there in a meeting with me,” said Slot. “But talking about their private lives, I don’t have control. “That’s been the situation as a long as I’ve been a manager but I have control to an extent (in terms of) what I expect from them on the pitch. It’s really pleasing to see what Virgil brings, what Trent brings and what Mo brings.”.
Asked by Sky Sports whether he expected good news for supporters soon, Salah said: “No, we are far away from that. “I don’t want to put something in the media and people start saying stuff, but nothing really moved on. But now I’m focused on the team, hopefully we win the Premier League.”.
That prospect looked increasingly after Liverpool swatted aside Julen Lopetegui’s shellshocked Hammers, easing to a three-goal lead at half-time thanks to goals from Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and a brilliant strike from Salah which caught out goalkeeper Alphonse Areola at his near post.
