Bosnia And Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
EL Salvador
Indonesia
Montenegro
North Macedonia
South Africa
United Arab Emirates

Liverpool sent Trent Alexander-Arnold contract message as Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah predictions made

sportsmole.co.uk, 22 January 2025, 10:52
Liverpool can afford to lose Real Madrid-linked Trent Alexander-Arnold in the summer, and the right-back's new contract should be a lower priority than Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, according to former Reds winger Jermaine Pennant.

While Arne Slot has been smashing records left, right and centre since taking the reins from Jurgen Klopp, Liverpool's marvellous on-field feats have been slightly overshadowed by the uncertain futures of Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk, all of whom could leave for free this summer as things stand.

Dialogue is believed to be ongoing with the agents of all three players, who have played fundamental roles in the Reds' success so far this season, but the club are yet to reach a breakthrough with any of their camps.

However, speaking exclusively to Sports Mole, ex-Reds winger Pennant claimed that it would be "blasphemous" to expect the Reds to lose all three for nothing when June rolls around, although he feels that Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid is inevitable.

"We don't know what kind of conversations are going on behind closed doors," Pennant said. "But those players, I have no way on this planet are Liverpool going to let all three go. Absolutely, don't be blasphemous, it's not going to happen.

Pennant: 'Alexander-Arnold will obviously go to Real Madrid'

"Virgil will probably get sorted first. Salah, probably 70% that he will sign a year extension. And I think Trent will obviously go to Real Madrid in the summer. But there will be action before the window closes. There will be announcements that at least one of them have signed, 100%."

Alexander-Arnold has long been lauded for his exceptional range of passing and terrific assist tallies while coming through the Liverpool youth ranks, but the jury remains out on the England international's defensive abilities.

The consensus is that Alexander-Arnold has improved in that regard since Slot took charge, but he was lambasted for a pitiful performance in the Reds' 2-2 Premier League draw with Manchester United earlier this month, leading to suggestions that his head had been turned by Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti's side supposedly had one approach turned down on New Year's Eve and have since decided against making another move in January, instead holding out hope that Alexander-Arnold will not sign a new deal and will be available for free at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old responded to his Man United horror show with a fabulous strike against Accrington Stanley in the FA Cup third round and also provided an assist for Darwin Nunez in the weekend's 2-0 success over Brentford, before being dropped for Conor Bradley against Lille in the Champions League.

'Liverpool can afford to lose Alexander-Arnold'

The latter is a "better defender" than Alexander-Arnold in Pennant's eyes, and Liverpool should not be losing sleep if the Englishman leaves, adding: "I think they can probably afford to lose Trent, if I'm fully honest. What he gives you going forward at times is absolutely unbelievable - his passing, his creativity on the ball.

"But if you're looking at the defensive aspects, he's probably not the best defender at the club in that position. Conor Bradley is probably a better defender at the moment. But what Trent gives you going forward can counter some of his defensive frailties.

"So you probably would say Trent, you'd be happy most if he was to go. Virgil is irreplaceable, no one in the team in that position can do what he does. Defending, he's an absolute rock. Anyone who plays alongside him is a better defender.

"And obviously Mo Salah, his strike force is unbelievable. The players that we can bring on, it's frightening. But for the last eight years, he's the top goalscorer every single season. That, again, is hard to argue. So for me, it would be Virgil, then Mo, then Trent."

Alexander-Arnold has registered two goals and six assists from 29 appearances across all tournaments in the current campaign, taking his overall tally for Liverpool to 21 strikes and 86 assists from 339 matches.

The Reds qualified for the last 16 of the Champions League by overcoming Lille on Tuesday night and are back in Premier League action at home to Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon.

Jermaine Pennant was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of William Hill.

Written by

Ben Knapton

Show more

Top News

22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hoping for a fourth win on the bounce over Nottingham Forest, Newcastle United host their fellow Champions League hopefuls in the Premier League at St James' Park on Sunday. 22 February 2025 talksport.com The football managers' union will be shaking their heads at David Moyes' admission before his reunion with Manchester United. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and West Ham United have confirmed their starting lineups for Saturday's Premier League London derby at the Emirates, where Mikel Merino will start up front for the Gunners. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson will look to create Premier League history in Sunday's clash with Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Royal Antwerp goalkeeper Senne Lammens has conceded it would be difficult to turn down a move to Manchester United. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich reportedly remain interested in signing Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku. 22 February 2025 talksport.com Ruud van Nistelrooy's torrid time at Leicester shows no signs of stopping. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal can kiss goodbye to the Premier League title if Liverpool manage to get the better of Manchester City in Sunday's top-flight blockbuster, according to Gunners legend Ray Parlour. 22 February 2025 talksport.com Jose Mourinho has finally got his way in one of his longest-running disputes with the Turkish Super Lig. 22 February 2025 talksport.com Udinese's 1-0 win over Lecce saw the game descend into utterly bizarre scenes when the matchwinner became enemy number one. 22 February 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest news as the Premier League action continues on a blockbuster Saturday.. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly planning to use Marcus Rashford in a bid to sign Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic during this summer's transfer window. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Rejuvenated Roma will try to extend their Serie A unbeaten streak on Monday, as they welcome rock-bottom Monza to Stadio Olimpico. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a summer move for Crystal Palace central midfielder Adam Wharton. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has rejected suggestions that the Red Devils could look to enter the free agent market to boost their squad for the final stages of the 2024-25 campaign. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool expert David Lynch has claimed that Andrew Robertson could be detrimental to the Reds' chances of beating Manchester City on Sunday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The reaction to Liverpool's recent form has been unwarranted given Arsenal have also looked far from their best, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Los Angeles vs. Minnesota Utd (Saturday, 9.30pm) Los Angeles FC will look to build on their 2024 regular season success when they begin their 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) campaign at home to Minnesota United on Saturday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sivasspor vs. Konyaspor (Saturday, 10.30am) Two sides separated by just one place in the Turkish Super Lig and looking to steer clear of the relegation battle go head-to-head as Sivasspor host Konyaspor at the New Sivas 4 Eylul Stadyumu on Saturday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Casa Pia vs. Gil Vicente (Saturday, 3.30pm) Two teams eager to bounce back from their respective defeats lock horns this Saturday as Casa Pia welcome Gil Vicente for round 23 of the Primeira Liga. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Lille vs. Monaco (Saturday, 4.00pm) On the matchday where Paris Saint-Germain will face Lyon, the clash at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy will rival that for the game of the weekend, when top-four hopefuls Lille and Monaco go head-to-head. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Parma vs. Bologna (Saturday, 2.00pm) Now under new management, Serie A strugglers Parma will welcome Champions League-chasing Bologna to Stadio Tardini on Saturday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Alaves vs. Espanyol (Saturday, 1.00pm) Two teams in the relegation mix in La Liga will lock horns on Saturday afternoon, with Alaves welcoming Espanyol. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Hibernian vs. Celtic (Saturday, 12.30pm) Seeking to quickly bounce back from their heartbreaking Champions League exit, Celtic travel to Easter Road to face Hibernian in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday lunchtime. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Derby vs. Millwall (Saturday, 12.30pm) Looking to earn their first win under the stewardship of a new head coach, Derby County will welcome playoff hopefuls Millwall to Pride Park on Saturday afternoon in the Championship. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Still licking their wounds from their Champions League exit, Sporting Lisbon return to action in the Portuguese Primeira Liga when they visit the Estadio do Desportivo das Aves to face AVS on Sunday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Famalicao and Moreirense will be looking to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since the turn of the year when they lock horns at the Estadio Municipal de Famalicao on Sunday. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has admitted that David Moyes is doing a better job at Everton than he currently is at Old Trafford. 22 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk In the latest edition of the M1 derby, Watford and Luton Town will lock horns at Vicarage Road in Sunday afternoon's offering of Championship action.