Alexander-Arnold in full flight is a joy to watch and the Hammers will get a close-up of that. — AP
Contract talks overshadow Reds’ showdown with Hammers
WHILE all eyes should be on the West Ham match this weekend, there are worrying glances from Liverpool supporters about the contract situation of three of their star players.
There are only a few days left until 2025, when Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will be allowed to talk to clubs outside England, as their contracts expire in June.
Supporters are on edge as there seems to be no breakthrough in the negotiations between the club and the trio.
And while van Dijk and Salah have expressed their desire to stay, the same could not be said of Alexander-Arnold, who may have his head already turned by the interest shown by Real Madrid.
There are two schools of thought with regards to the contract situation, especially for van Dijk and Salah.
The first is to let them go so that Arne Slot can rebuild his squad, as age is catching up with both and they would eventually have to leave anyway, be it next year or two years later.
Then there is of course the option to retain their services, given that both are still in good shape and there being no suitable replacements for them in the current market.
Salah and van Dijk have been in imperious form and have a good few years left in them.
Whether it would be a gamble or risk to extend their contracts, only time will tell.
For many, it would be simply unacceptable to see van Dijk and Salah in the colours of another shirt, other than Liverpool’s red. If the voices of fans could make a difference, they would see to it that both retire at the club.
As for Alexander-Arnold, it would be hard to let the Scouser leave.
The England national may have his detractors, especially about his defensive capabilities, but he has enjoyed an improved season under Slot.
His situation is different from van Dijk’s and Salah’s, because of his age, 26.
Alexander-Arnold may be tempted to join his good buddy Jude Bellingham in Spain, but he should also consider his roots in Merseyside.
If he leaves, his legacy may be tarnished like those of Steve McManaman and Michael Owen.
If he stays, like his idol Steven Gerrard, his status as a club legend will be set in stone.
Alexander-Arnold has set his sights on winning the Ballon d’Or, and there is no reason why he cannot do so in a Liverpool jersey. Owen did it in 2001.
Hopefully, he will listen to his heart and stay. But if he chooses to move on, Conor Bradley should become the first choice, unless Slot signs someone else.
Thankfully, all three have not let their contract situation affect their performances on the pitch.
Salah continues to break records, while van Dijk is a rock in defence and Alexander-Arnold weighs in with his pinpoint passes.
After brushing aside Leicester City in midweek, Liverpool travel to the London Stadium to face the Hammers tomorrow.
Morale in the Reds’ camp should be high as they continue to pick up important points to stay at the top of the standings.
The Reds are on a 14-match unbeaten run in the League and should have no issues seeing off Julen Lopetegui’s team.
After two back-to-back draws against Newcastle United and Fulham earlier this month, the 6-3 win over Tottenham Hotspur last week has re-energised the team.
There is no denying that Slot’s side could have defended better against Spurs, but kudos to Ange Postecoglou’s team for not backing down and instead taking the fight to the Reds.
January will be another busy period for Liverpool, with eight matches to play in all competitions.
With the number of injured players having eased up and only Bradley left sidelined, things are moving nicely for Slot and his team.
As for West Ham, they have not been the same team since winning the UEFA Europa Conference trophy and losing Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer of last year.
Lopetegui’s side is inconsistent and struggles to get a good run of results, which could work to Liverpool’s advantage.
The Spanish coach, who took over from David Moyes, is under pressure to guide the Hammers to a place in Europe again.
There should be some changes to the side that faced Southampton midweek due to injuries and suspensions.
Lukasz Fabianski, Max Kilman and Carlos Soler are all injured while Tomas Soucek and Guido Rodriguez are both suspended.
Alphonse Areola should be in goal, with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Emerson Palmieri in front of him.
In midfield, it should consist of Edson Alvarez, Lucas Paqueta, Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen and Mohammed Kudus.
The sole forward should be Niclas Fullkrug, as first choice Michail Antonio is also injured.
This is a match Liverpool ought to win, given West Ham’s inconsistencies.
The Reds also hold the upper hand in terms of head-to-head statistics, having won five of the last 10 away league matches against the Hammers and lost three times.
