Anfield Index
·21 November 2024
Anfield Index
·21 November 2024
Liverpool’s off-pitch drama is capturing as much attention as their performances on the field, with speculation swirling around the futures of Mohamed Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Virgil van Dijk. The catalyst? A club calendar for 2025 that conspicuously excludes the trio, whose contracts expire at the end of the current season.
Fans were quick to notice that the three Liverpool stars are absent from the merchandise release. This omission has amplified concerns that the club may not secure their services beyond the season. While some dismiss it as marketing misdirection, others see it as a harbinger of seismic changes ahead for the Arne Slot-led side.
Photo: IMAGO
Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool’s defensive linchpin, has confirmed that discussions are underway but stopped short of offering reassurances.
“I can say obviously discussions are ongoing, but I don’t know, we will see what happens in the future,” he revealed last month. “My full focus is on Liverpool, wanting to win games that are ahead of me and nothing else. What the future will bring I have no idea at the moment. I can only tell you that discussions have been started up and we will see.”
Van Dijk’s comments reflect uncertainty, but they also underscore Liverpool’s intent to at least open dialogue with their key players. Whether talks will translate into agreements remains to be seen.
Mohamed Salah, Liverpool’s talismanic forward, added fuel to the fire in September. Following a scintillating 3-0 victory over Manchester United, Salah dropped a bombshell in a post-match interview with Sky Sports.
Photo: IMAGO
“I had a good summer and had a long time to myself to try to stay positive because, as you know, it’s my last year at the club,” he said.
Salah elaborated on his mindset: “I just want to enjoy it, and I don’t want to think about it. I feel like I’m free to play football, and then we’ll see what happens next year.”
His words have been interpreted as a farewell tour, though he clarified that no contract talks had commenced. “Nobody in the club talked to me yet about contracts so I was just like, ‘OK, I play my last season and see at the end of the season.'”
For Liverpool supporters, Salah’s statements are a stark reminder that even club legends may not be immune to the winds of change.
Of the three, Trent Alexander-Arnold seems the most likely to depart. Reports link him with a potential move to Real Madrid, where he could reunite with England teammate Jude Bellingham. The right-back’s future has long been a topic of speculation, but a move to Madrid would mark a dramatic shift in his career.
Alexander-Arnold’s departure would leave a gaping hole in Liverpool’s backline, given his transformative role under both Jurgen Klopp and Arne Slot. While no official statements have been made, the club’s apparent lack of urgency to secure his future raises eyebrows.
Liverpool are at a crossroads. Balancing the demands of financial prudence with the need to remain competitive in the Premier League and Europe will test the leadership of Arne Slot and the club’s hierarchy. With Salah, Van Dijk, and Alexander-Arnold representing both the present and future of the team, losing them would mark the end of an era—and the beginning of a significant rebuild.
For now, Liverpool fans can only watch and wait, hoping that behind closed doors, progress is being made to retain their prized assets.