Liverpool trio will share huge worry while contracts run down – ‘It would impact plans’

Alan Shearer believes injuries will be playing on the minds of Liverpool trio Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk. The three Reds’ heroes all have an uncertain future at Anfield, with their contracts expiring at the end of the season.

So far, it has done little to impact their performances on the pitch. Salah is the Premier League top goalscorer, Van Dijk looks to be back to his colossal best and Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to contribute two assists in the 3-3 draw against Newcastle United. However, things could look rather different when the Christmas period comes to an end and the January transfer window opens.

When they enter the final six months of their contracts, Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk will be free to negotiate with other clubs. Shearer thinks they will be petrified of picking up an injury in case it impacts their chances of moving to a new club at the end of their deal or signing a new contract.

While speaking to Betfair, Shearer said: “Subconsciously they really won’t want to get injured, because if they get a serious injury it could impact their plans. You’re only human to be concerned about such things.”

All three players have been vital to Arne Slot, who currently has Liverpool at the top of both the Premier League and the Champions League table. Nevertheless, he has still had to fend off questions about their contracts on multiple occasions.

While Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold have remained tight-lipped about their situations, Salah has been surprisingly vocal about his ordeal. After bagging a brace in their 3-2 away victory over Southampton, Salah said he was “more out than in” at Anfield, in regard to his contract.

Shearer thinks Liverpool fans who have been telling the Reds’ hierarchy to match all of their demands to be careful what they wish for. He added: “I keep hearing people say they should give them what they want.

“You can’t give players what they want because when other players are up for a new contract they’ll want exactly the same. So, who’s to say Salah doesn’t want £1million per week?

“And then Van Dijk will argue that he wants what Salah is getting because he feels as if he’s as important, if not more important than Salah. So you can’t just give players what they want.

“There’s always a middle ground somewhere that you have to settle for. We don’t know exactly what the players want but there’s no doubt that all three players will have had talks.

“It may just be that they’ve not been offered a deal yet. In an ideal world, they’ll keep all three of them. Whether they can or not, we don’t know but I’d guess there’ll be a deal further down the line for at least two of the three.”