Arne Slot reveals Liverpool squad reaction to Mo Salah's bombshell contract revelations

Liverpool's star man Mohamed Salah told reporters the club were yet to offer him a new contract as the months tick down on his current deal which ends next summer

Arne Slot insists Mo Salah’s contract situation is far from a distraction - and may even be motivating him.

The Liverpool star dropped a bombshell on Sunday when he revealed the club have yet to offer him a new contract. Salah, 32, is out of contract in the summer along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

But the Egyptian star claimed he is “more out than in” next summer as talks have yet to find a breakthrough. Reds boss Slot is not worried about the situation as he fielded questions ahead of Wednesday night’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Anfield.

Salah has scored 12 goals and created 10 so far this season with Liverpool top of the Premier League and Champions League tables. He said: “The only thing I can say is that if I look at my line-ups Mo is more in than out. So that quote I can give you.

“We want his numbers to be where they are at the moment because those are the numbers that Mo always had and still has. That is the positive thing. I don't think that he is distracted at all, I haven't seen that after the United game when he had some comments, I haven't seen it after a post you told me about [after Brighton ] he carried on scoring.

“He is fully focused on the game, these kinds of things are inside here and the media and all the fans talk about it which is completely normal but if you had been at the AXA today I don't think any player talked about it at least not while I was there. Players always give each other stick so maybe they did this now but players are also focused on the short term and that is Madrid and that is City.

“By the time Mo’s contract is extended players don’t look at it that way, we as a club do, but the players don’t. I don't think there is any distraction for him, for the players and definitely not for me because I worked yesterday on preparing the team in the best possible way and there was not one time in my mind that I was thinking about sitting here and talking about Mo.

Slot was also asked about Jamie Carragher ’s comments when he labelled Salah ‘selfish’ for deciding to speak out before crunch games against Real and Manchester City. It was then he made the point about the contract being a motivator for the player.

He said: “I focus a bit more on what else he said – he said he was one of the five best five players Liverpool ever had and I completely agree with him, which is not an easy thing as there have been many great players at this club. I don't think it distracts Mo at all, maybe it even brings the best out of him if you look at his performances until now.

“Like I've said a few times already, my focus is the next game and if we had that game another big game is coming up and it just keeps on going. I talk to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he is in a good place at the moment.

“I'm not distracted by his comments and I don't feel his team-mates are. It's nice we have a story in the media, you guys have some work now as well.”

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