Arne Slot has dismissed claims that contract concerns are affecting his players’ performances, particularly addressing the scrutiny around Trent Alexander-Arnold following his display for Liverpool against Manchester United.
During his pre-match press conference ahead of the Tottenham fixture, Slot emphasized the collective disappointment in the team’s performance. “We were all unhappy with how we played, especially the result,” Slot explained. “It wasn’t just Trent. He didn’t have his best game, but that’s not unusual in a player’s career. It wasn’t his finest moment, but it wasn’t for some others either. When you play 50-60 matches a season, there will be games where things don’t go as planned.”
Slot continued, stressing the importance of perspective. “Perhaps we should focus more on how impressive it is that these players can maintain such a high level for so long. I received numerous messages saying, ‘What a match.’ Both teams fought hard to win, and that’s part of our job.”
When asked whether he had addressed Alexander-Arnold directly, Slot confirmed, “I have. It’s normal. I don’t share personal conversations, but after each game, we analyze their performance. We point out areas for improvement, but it’s not just Trent. Look at Macca, he could have sprinted harder for the second goal. The players have all worked tirelessly and given their all, and we still earned a result.”
Mohamed Salah’s recent social media post, featuring Liverpool players with expiring contracts, caught attention. Slot responded, “I have regular conversations with my players, so if there’s anything troubling them, they know they can share it with me.”
He further stated, “I don’t focus on social media posts or outside chatter. As Liverpool manager, if you’re constantly concerned with what’s being said, you lose your personal life. People are always talking about us because this is one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
