A round-up of the latest Liverpool news as Arne Slot hears Trent Alexander-Arnold’s position amid interest from Real Madrid but is warned of a Mohamed Salah ‘worry’.
Dominik Szoboszlai is reluctant to accept Liverpool’s midfield request
Liverpool are still weighing up which positions to strengthen in the transfer window as Arne Slot awaits the full return of their players from international duty. The Reds even think they might have enough cover in their ranks already to avoid signing a new defensive midfielder.
But Dominik Szoboszlai is throwing a spanner into the works as the Hungary captain is so far reluctant to agree to cover the deepest place in Liverpool’s midfield. That is according to The Telegraph, which reports Anfield chiefs have earmarked the 23-year-old as a capable option.
Wataru Endo and Stefan Bajcetic are currently the only established defensive midfielders in Liverpool’s first-team squad. Alexis Mac Allister and Curtis Jones can also feature in the role. But Reds chiefs feel Szoboszlai offers an additional option, despite never playing in the spot.
Read more about how Liverpool view Szoboszlai and how he impacts their transfers, here.
Darragh MacAnthony is ‘worried’ that Mohamed Salah is getting worse
Peterborough United chairman and Liverpool fan Darragh MacAnthony has admitted that he is ‘worried’ about Mohamed Salah. The Posh chief fears the 32-year-old now faces a difficult season at Anfield in the new term after showing signs that age is making him a worse player.
Salah impressed MacAnthony in the first half of the 2023/24 campaign when he recorded 14 goals and eight assists in 20 Premier League appearances. But the Egypt icon only fired an extra four goals plus two assists in 12 fixtures after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations.
Liverpool even only saw Salah score one goal in their final seven games, of which he started and played the full 90 minutes in five. So, MacAnthony fears that Salah is on the decline and will not rediscover his mojo in the new campaign as Arne Slot starts a fresh era at Liverpool.
“I’m worried about Salah,” MacAnthony told talkSPORT. “I think he was great at the start of the season. Then, with age, his output in the second half of the season was waning and it’s not going to be any better this season. That’s just my opinion.”
Read more about what MacAnthony has said about Salah and Liverpool, here.
What Trent Alexander-Arnold told Arne Slot amid interest from Real Madrid
New Liverpool coach Arne Slot has spoken on the phone to Trent Alexander-Arnold amid the right-back continuing to earn interest from Real Madrid in a transfer. That is according to the Liverpool ECHO, which reports that Anfield chiefs still have no desire to sell the 25-year-old.
The Reds are desperate to convince their academy product to agree a fresh contract with his current deal expiring next year. But interest from Real Madrid might complicate matters, yet Alexander-Arnold has ‘explicitly’ told Slot of his commitment to stay at Liverpool in 2024/25.
Vice-captain Alexander-Arnold further moved to ease any concerns Slot may have held that he would seek a transfer by talking up his determination to start the new season strongly. It is Slot’s first term after replacing Jurgen Klopp and losing the defender may have been huge.
Read more about what Alexander-Arnold has told Slot about his future at Liverpool, here.
Receive a digest of our best Liverpool content each week direct to your mailbox
