Liverpool boss Arne Slot unfazed by Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Real Madrid speculation

LONDON – Arne Slot insists his Liverpool team remain laser-focused on their English Premier League title challenge, despite reports that Trent Alexander-Arnold is closing in on a move to Real Madrid.

The England defender has long been linked with a free transfer to the Bernabeu this summer and talks between the 26-year-old and the Spanish giants are understood to be making progress.

He is one of three marquee players out of contract at the end of the season, along with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk. All three have been able to discuss terms with overseas clubs since January.

Slot’s side, who are red-hot favourites to win the Premier League, host local rivals Everton on April 2 following the international break, but the manager was pressed on the Alexander-Arnold issue.

“His situation is, unfortunately, that he is injured. He’s injured and, for him, that means he is fully focused on his recovery... for us, that means we are trying to help him to be back as soon as he can,” he said on April 1.

“For the rest, of course, for eight months it went a bit up and down maybe, with all kinds of talks about him, Virgil or Mo. But we have never been focused on those talks, we have always been focused on what we have to do.”

Asked what the Reds needed to do amid the trio’s contract situation, Slot simply said: “For Virgil and Mo, that is trying to win the Merseyside derby. And for Trent, it is making sure he can get fit as soon as he can.”

Slot, whose team are 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just nine games remaining in the Premier League, added that he was relaxed despite the ongoing speculation.

He said: “It’s a situation that is there for eight or nine months now and all these three players have performed so well under these circumstances, so it doesn’t affect me at all.”

The Dutchman is also not worried that his side are unable to bounce back from their Champions League defeat by Paris Saint-Germain and their League Cup final loss to Newcastle United – their previous two matches.

“We are all looking so much forward to the upcoming nine games (in the Premier League). Players are looking refreshed, in my opinion. Now it is going to be nine finals. These games are very important for us, starting with Everton,” Slot said.

Everton held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw in a thriller to mark the last Merseyside derby at Goodison in February before their move to a new stadium, with nearly 40,000 in attendance.

“I expect the same but with one difference, that every time the Everton players do something well, they don’t get the reactions and cheers. But our players will get that reaction (at Anfield), after every tackle they make, pass they do. And that is different emotion,” Slot said.

Meanwhile, Manchester City were dealt a major blow with leading scorer Erling Haaland set for a spell on the sidelines after an ankle injury as the season reaches its climax.

The Norwegian, 24, was injured in the 2-1 FA Cup quarter-final win at Bournemouth on March 30. Having just scored his 30th goal of the season to level the tie, he was then hurt in a challenge with Bournemouth’s Lewis Cook.

The Premier League champions did not provide a timescale for Haaland’s return.

“The expectation is that Erling will be fit in time to play a further part in the remainder of this season, including this summer’s Fifa Club World Cup. Erling underwent initial tests in Manchester on Monday morning and will now seek specialist consultation to confirm the full extent of the injury,” said a club statement.

City are fifth in the Premier League and battling to ensure a spot in the Champions League next season.

Pep Guardiola’s side host Leicester City on April 2 and travel to Manchester United on April 6.
AFP, REUTERS