Mohamed Salah's contract break brings out the best in him and, according to Liverpool boss Arne Slot, is not a distraction at all.
The Egyptian forward sent shockwaves through football on Monday when he revealed he was disappointed in the club for not putting a new contract on the table. The star's current £350,000-a-week contract expires at the end of this season.
Salah said he was 'more out than in' about his future at Anfield, but Slot insisted the uncertainty only makes his star player better.
“I don't think it distracts Mo at all,” the Dutch boss said on Wednesday ahead of Liverpool's blockbuster clash with Real Madrid.
“It might even bring out the best in him when you look at his performance so far.”
Slot answered most other questions about Salah's contract problems straight up, but did joke: 'If you look at my line-up, Mo is more in than out.
'Today he is completely focused on the match (against Real Madrid). I think this kind of thing… the media and all the fans talk about it, which is completely normal – but if you had been at the AXA (training ground) today, I don't think any player talked about it, at least not while I was there.
'Players always give each other a stick, so maybe they have done this now, but players are also focused on the short term and that is Madrid and that is Manchester City (Sunday's opponent).
“I don't think there is any distraction for him, for the players and certainly not for me, because yesterday I worked on preparing the team as best as possible and there was not a moment in my mind that I thought about coming here to sit. and talking about Mo.
'I talk to Mo about what I expect from him, just like with all the other players, and he is in a good place at the moment. I don't get distracted by his comments and I don't feel like his teammates do. It's nice that we have a story in the media, you now also have some work.'
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be fit enough to make the bench against the European champions, but is unlikely to start. Diogo Jota and Alisson remain out, while Kostas Tsimikas twisted his ankle in training last week and will not be fit.
Slot added that Real Madrid always find a way to win and that despite being four points behind Barcelona in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti's side are a different beast in Europe. “They can win by being dominant and beating the opponent,” the Liverpool boss said.
'But when it's a tough match, they always find a way to win the match or move on to the next round. That makes them special. Of course they also have great individual players and great quality. That's the best thing about tomorrow because Liverpool have great players and have done so in recent years. That's why we're all looking forward to tomorrow's match.'
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