Liverpool striking gold this season could be more important than many think given the changes that could await around the corner.
Arne Slot has had answers to every question thrown his way so far since he joined the club so it would be no surprise at all if the Dutchman is able to safely negotiate even the worst-case scenario of his best three players – Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk – all leaving.
Of course, it is nearly 100 per cent certain that outcome will not come to fruition but we are starting to see flowers blooming for spring with no resolution reached for the Contract Three.
But it feels less certain that all three of them will stay, even though the club are working tirelessly to extend their deals. Slot confirmed on Tuesday that he wants Salah to stay – it did not need a rocket scientist to work that out beforehand but it has been rare for him to directly discuss it.
Negotiations are continuing between the club and the players’ camps and it is still largely expected that Van Dijk and Salah will extend. Both have been offered deals. The Alexander-Arnold conundrum is more complex.
As Mail Sport reported in early December, Real Madrid are confident that they can tempt Alexander-Arnold to join them, and this has not changed. Does this potentially trophy-laden campaign at Anfield make the right back more likely to want to stay?
Of course, it is possible. But the opposite view could be that winning the biggest prizes again could work in Real’s favour, as the Englishman may think he has done everything he can on these shores having won it all, and wants to challenge himself in a foreign environment.
Aside from the Contract Three, though, it would be no surprise at all if several first-team stars were to depart this summer. Darwin Nunez, as reported in this column three weeks ago, is a top target for Saudi Pro League clubs.
They tried in January but Liverpool thought Nunez had an important role to play in the pursuit of glory this term so rebuffed those approaches. The Saudis are still very keen, though, and Slot personally digging out Nunez last week certainly raised eyebrows in the Gulf nation.
Slot talked about Nunez’s lack of work rate against Aston Villa but was also disappointed in his attitude against Wolves the weekend before. Those comments, plus the Uruguayan’s performances, make it feel like time is running out for Nunez at Liverpool.
Harvey Elliott, meanwhile, has gone on record to say how much he wants to fight for his place in the team several times, adding he loves the club, but zero league starts this season suggests the midfielder, still only 21, may have to look elsewhere if he wants regular game time.
Brighton have been mooted as a potential destination, plus Borussia Dortmund. Fellow German side Bayer Leverkusen may be in the market for a Florian Wirtz replacement so it would be no surprise if they came to the table, with the club also eyeing Manchester City’s James McAtee.
Joe Gomez is another who could move on. Liverpool’s longest-serving player had a number of clubs monitoring his situation last summer and he was left out of the matchday squad on the first game of this term. Aston Villa had kept an eye on the defender.
Gomez is on the treatment table currently after undergoing hamstring surgery but, when he returns, the 27-year-old may decide his long-term future is away from Anfield. As was the case last summer, Liverpool will not be forcing him out of the door.
Caoimhin Kelleher is in a similar boat. Clearly good enough to be a No 1 goalkeeper, the Irishman was convinced to stay last summer, and put in a string of excellent displays while deputising for the injured Alisson, but Giorgi Mamardashvili’s arrival from Valencia in the summer will shut him out. As is the case with all of the above, the Reds will not be selling any of their fringe stars on the cheap.
There has so far been no breakthrough in talks to extend Ibrahima Konate’s contract but his performances this season have been exemplary. Top clubs including next week’s opponents Paris Saint-Germain are keeping an eye on the defender. The Frenchman has – without putting a jinx on things – had a clean bill of health this season after a few injury-hit campaigns.
Wataru Endo was slated as one who could leave but that is less certain as the Japan captain is growing into somewhat of a cult hero. Slot loves his attitude and leadership so do not rule out him sticking around as an important squad player.
The obvious question that fans will be asking is: who are they targeting, then? Left back seems an obvious area to strengthen this summer. Confidential has reported before how Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez is one to watch – and he shares agents with Federico Chiesa.
As for central defence and the forward line, a lot depends on who leaves. Liverpool have already done their due diligence on several summer targets and long-lists will have been drawn up for months. Money is not an issue for the club.
Slot was not fazed by criticism for a lack of business last summer and instead wanted to assess his squad over the course of a season but he, alongside Richard Hughes and the recruitment team, has now had time to do that. A summer shake-up could be on the cards…
Paddy Power’s punchy payout
While there were no wild celebrations after Liverpool’s statement victory at Manchester City on Sunday, those who backed them to win the title with Paddy Power were already celebrating.
The bookmaker paid out on all outright bets for the Reds to lift a 20th top-flight title following Arsenal’s shock 1-0 win at title rivals Arsenal.
And Confidential understands that there has been a SIX-FIGURE payout to one happy punter, with Liverpool a juicy 7-1 to win the league before a ball had been kicked this season.
It is a remarkably early call by a firm that are never afraid to make bold decisions but they had ‘seen enough’ after Jarrod Bowen’s header and decided 24 hours before Liverpool went to the Etihad that the race was over.
Time for Slot to put his feet up
Aaaaaaaand breathe. After a gruelling run of 26 games in 95 days since the last international break, Liverpool finally have a free weekend – and no one will appreciate that more than Arne Slot.
That run was relentless for the players, relentless for the coaches, relentless for the match-going fans (and the match-going media, I should add!).
Slot and his fitness staff have tried to give his heavyweights a monthly matchday off in that run, be it in the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup defeat at Plymouth or the Champions League dead rubber at PSV Eindhoven.
But the management team has been non-stop, so it has been hard for the boss to catch up with family or switch off for a couple of days.
It will only be a couple of days off this weekend, with Liverpool not playing in the FA Cup fifth round but the huge Champions League last 16 first leg at PSG on its way, so it will hardly see trips to exotic destinations. But the physical and mental rest could do everyone a bit of good in the long run.
Danns’ waiting game
Jayden Danns signed for Sunderland on loan in late January and has not managed to play a single minute yet – or even get on the training field – but he has been working hard to make his Black Cats debut.
The striker, who made an appearance in all four competitions for Liverpool’s first team this season, had a back injury that was found at his medical. It is believed this is the same issue he had in pre-season.
It meant he would do his rehabilitation with Liverpool in Kirkby and the 19-year-old has been working on this – with the Premier League leaders needing to give Sunderland the green light before he can officially join the group.
But Confidential understands Danns has made several trips to Sunderland to settle in with his new team-mates and introduce himself to the group.
He has had meetings with manager Regis Le Bris and was at Elland Road as Sunderland played Leeds last week.
…and Ben’s back to boost Boro
Sticking on the theme of Liverpool loanees in the North East, Ben Doak has missed the last four league games for Middlesbrough with a thigh injury. Whether by coincidence or not, Michael Carrick’s men are on their worst run of the season, losing all four of those matches.
But Confidential has learned that Doak is hopeful of returning to Boro training next week with a view to being fit within the next fortnight or so. It is also a boost for Scotland boss Steve Clarke ahead of the upcoming international fixtures.
Doak had interest from Crystal Palace and Ipswich in January but Liverpool were happy with his progress and game time on loan at the Championship side and rejected the bids. Doak has scored three goals and made seven assists for Boro this season.
Bradley’s a boy wonder, but…
If Trent Alexander-Arnold does indeed leave for Real Madrid this summer, as many Reds fans have mentally prepared for, there is no doubt that Conor Bradley is more than capable of stepping up to a more senior role in the squad.
He is the ultimate modern full back – can fly forward like a gazelle charging up the right wing and, as he has shown on multiple occasions including the win over Real Madrid, he can also defend. Pocketing Kylian Mbappe is just one example of many.
But is his fitness record a concern? He missed 31 games last season – though, it must be stated, he was yet to ‘break through’ into the first team for many of those at the start of the campaign – and that figure is 11 and counting this year.
Last year’s long lay-off was due to a back injury that took several months of rehabilitation so hardly one that can reoccur time and again, though the niggly muscle blows could be a reason to be fearful.
It is a great shame for Bradley who would have certainly played a part in the last week or so.
Silky Salah blows Nico away
Interesting to hear from Manchester City man Nico Gonzalez in the mixed zone on Sunday discussing how Mohamed Salah’s ability blew him away in the 2-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
The Spanish midfielder, raised in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy and referred to as the ‘mini Rodri’ by Pep Guardiola, said he was surprised at just how good Liverpool’s stars were after his January move from Porto.
‘I’ve just arrived, I’m not used to playing against players of the quality like Salah,’ he said. ‘I think he already has 30 goals and it’s tough to play against players like this.’
‘Rashford’ a banned word at Villa
Another note on mixed zones from my travels this week: Aston Villa were less than impressed at journalists for asking Youri Tielemans a simple question on his thoughts on Marcus Rashford’s first start for the club against Liverpool last week.
‘No questions on Rashford,’ came the missive from the press officer. A frankly ludicrous intervention.
Luckily for Liverpool’s stars, pretty much all questions are fair game – though most reporters have now given up asking Virgil van Dijk about his unsigned contract as he will straight-bat the reply.
When Mohamed Salah left the Etihad Stadium, he started walking over to us assembled members of the media but, as if we were a left back marking him on the pitch, he dropped his shoulder and was soon walking off in the other direction.
Trent Alexander-Arnold tends to keep his head down when asked by reporters for a chat. You cannot blame him – he knows he will be bombarded with questions about his future and may say something he does not mean.
Mac Allister’s new maté mate
Alexis Mac Allister has a new pal in the north west – though they are rivals on the pitch.
Carlos Alcaraz, who signed for Everton from Brazilian club Flamengo on deadline day, reached out to his fellow Argentine to help settle into his new home.
The pair know each other from the international setup and have exchanged WhatsApps in the last few weeks with a view to meeting up when schedules allow.
South American stars are big into their maté drinks so it’s fair to say one of them will be on the agenda when the pair hang out.
For Mac Allister this week, though, he might have been better investing in some frozen peas to soothe the blow of Omar Marmoush landing on him on Sunday.
The Argentine had a nasty black eye but should be OK to be in the squad tonight against Newcastle.
Hats off to Taylor
We’re always quick to criticise referees in football so let’s take a moment to appreciate what a solid officiating performance looks like: Anthony Taylor on Sunday as Liverpool beat Manchester City.
Zero cards is the headline figure but that was more down to the fact he let the game flow. No needless free-kicks, no early bookings to leave him in a sticky situation. It was a good display and he had full control of the game.
Although, saying that, maybe the lack of bookings was down to the fact Manchester City simply could not get near Liverpool!
FBI keeping an eye on Liverpool
We could start a weekly feature on famous faces that are Reds fans but here is a weird one… the new head of the FBI, Kash Patel, was spotted wearing a tie with a Liverpool logo on it.
‘Kash Patel is there for one reason, he is there to make the FBI great again,’ said President Donald Trump, talking like a football chairman after unveiling a club’s new boss.
Fans fourth in the table
Expansion of the Anfield Road Stand has helped Liverpool achieve an average attendance of 60,306 this season – the highest in the club’s history. It places them fourth in the crowd ‘table’ behind Manchester United, West Ham and Tottenham who all have higher stadium capacities.
Ironically, the last time Liverpool were the best-supported team in England was back in 1992-93 when they finished sixth in the inaugural Premier League season and averaged 37,009 for home games.
Manchester United won their first championship under Alex Ferguson that season but redevelopment at Old Trafford restricted their capacity and average home gates were just 35,084. They have been top dogs in England every season since.
Green is still a Red
Once a very famous Premier League voice as lead commentator for BBC Radio Five Live, little is seen or heard of Alan Green these days.
But the Ulsterman still gets his fix of live football by quietly attending matches at Anfield where he enjoys watching his beloved Reds in relative anonymity compared to his outspoken years as a broadcaster.
Green, who was heard in millions of homes for 45 years until he stopped working in the UK in 2020, always strongly refuted accusations of bias towards Liverpool.
His fall-out with Sir Alex Ferguson lasted three decades. ‘It was all about one incident when he misled the Friday press conference about team news,’ Green revealed later.
So no surprise that at the age of 72, he spends his leisure time at Anfield rather than Old Trafford!
Red Riddle
It’s time for the weekly Red Riddle. Last week, I asked you to name the 16 players who had featured for both Liverpool and Manchester City. Tough, right? Though, as I said then, anything in the teens represents a good score.
Here are the answers: Nicolas Anelka, Mario Balotelli, Craig Bellamy, Scott Carson, Nigel Clough, Robbie Fowler, Didi Hamann, David James, Mark Kennedy, Steve McMahon, Steve McManaman, James Milner, Albert Riera, Raheem Sterling, Daniel Sturridge and Kolo Toure.
A bit easier this week – in terms of the numbers of answers at least – Liverpool’s next match after the home game against Newcastle tonight is a trip to the French capital to take on Paris Saint-Germain.
Five players have had stints at both clubs, you know the drill…
And for a bonus point: Liverpool lost 2-1 on their last visit to the Parc des Princes – who scored the Reds’ goal that night?
CONTRIBUTORS: Dominic King and Joe Bernstein
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