Slot claims Salah’s Liverpool contract dispute could also be bringing finest out of him

Arne Slot has claimed Mohamed Salah’s contract standoff with Liverpool could also be bringing the very best out of the ahead and isn’t a distraction from a massively vital week for the membership.

Salah’s admission that he’s “extra out than in” at Liverpool owing to the absence of a contract provide has overshadowed the buildup to Wednesday’s Champions League recreation in opposition to Actual Madrid and Manchester Metropolis’s go to within the Premier League on Sunday.

Jamie Carragher accused the Egypt worldwide of performing selfishly by going public along with his disappointment following the win at Southampton, the place Salah’s eleventh and twelfth objectives of the season stretched Liverpool’s lead on the high of the Premier League to eight factors. Slot, nevertheless, believes the Egypt worldwide’s discontent over contract talks, along with his present deal on account of expire in the summertime, could also be inspiring the beautiful run of type that underlines his value to the membership.

“I focus a bit extra on what else he [Carragher] mentioned – that he was one of many 5 finest gamers Liverpool ever had,” Slot mentioned. “I fully agree with him, which isn’t a simple factor as there have been many nice gamers at this membership.

“I don’t suppose it distracts Mo in any respect, possibly it even brings the very best out of him for those who take a look at his performances till now. My focus is the subsequent recreation after which now we have one other huge recreation developing and it simply retains on going. I speak to Mo about what I anticipate from him, like I do with all the opposite gamers, and he’s in place in the meanwhile. I’m not distracted by his feedback and I don’t really feel his teammates are. It’s good now we have a narrative within the media, you guys have some work now as effectively.”

Andy Robertson insisted there are not any indicators on the coaching floor of Salah’s disappointment over the contract, nor on the pitch. The Scotland captain mentioned: “Mo comes into coaching each single day with a smile on his face. He’s within the gymnasium working as arduous as ever, he’s on the coaching pitch working as arduous as ever. He’s one of many happiest individuals within the coaching floor, that’s for positive. He enjoys each second of being in there and you’ll inform.

“And he’s such a targeted person that he’ll be in his home now most likely targeted on tomorrow evening. That’s what all the very best gamers on the earth do and Mo definitely falls into that class.”

Slot confirmed Trent Alexander-Arnold won’t be match to start out in opposition to the reigning European champions – who’re involved in signing the defender on a free switch ought to his Liverpool contract additionally expire – regardless of returning to coaching after a current hamstring damage. “Trent is within the squad however he won’t be accessible to start out,” Liverpool’s head coach mentioned. “He can possibly make a couple of minutes however in a perfect world he possibly doesn’t. But when it’s actually vital he could make a couple of minutes however he’s not going to start out.

“Federico [Chiesa] isn’t within the squad but. He isn’t coaching in the entire session but, however one or two elements of the session. Harvey Elliott is within the squad however hasn’t performed aggressive soccer in a very long time. He isn’t prepared to start out. Alisson isn’t there but, Diogo [Jota] isn’t there but and Kostas [Tsimikas] isn’t there. He has an damage as effectively. It’s fairly a listing for us as effectively [as Real].”