Liverpool expected Spanish media to attempt to unsettle both Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah ahead of the Champions League final.
That’s according to Miguel Delaney’s ‘Reading the Game’ newsletter from The Independent. Delaney claims that Liverpool staff were ready for the onslaught of headlines about the two players futures.
Madrid had reportedly hoped to boost morale with the capture of Kylian Mbappe ahead of the final.
Their failure to do so led to some at Liverpool reportedly expecting the Spanish press to create a buzz around either Mane or Salah joining Los Blancos instead.
Irrespective of any legitimate interest in the players, Liverpool are said to have been anticipating this as an attempt to unsettle them ahead of the final.
Time for the talking to stop
Following yesterday’s media day at Liverpool, the pre-match mind games have really ramped up. Madrid for their part seem rather fixated on Salah’s rather tame comments about revenge ahead of the final.
Harvey Elliott has also come out with some bullish talk of revenge of his own. By and large though, the Liverpool players have remained focused on the job at hand.
Throughout it all though, there have been questions for both Mane and Salah about their respective futures.
While Salah was unequivocal in his statement that he will be at Anfield next season, Mane was rather less so. Amidst reports of interest from Bayern Munich, whether he will continue at Liverpool is still unclear.
Even Roberto Firmino was asked about his contract situation at Liverpool. Whether this was a blatant attempt to unsettle the players or not is tricky to say.
Whatever the tactics, The Reds look focussed and ready for the job at hand tomorrow evening. Contract negotiations and transfer talk will take a backseat as Liverpool look to bring a seventh European Cup to Anfield.