Mohamed Salah’s winner against Brighton, which took Liverpool top of the Premier League table, was a timely reminder of what the Reds could lose if contract talks do not go well.
Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk, have been three of the rocks of Liverpool’s recent era of success – and yet in nine weeks they could all sign deals elsewhere to leave the club for free. Both players’ contracts come to an end by the end of this season after legendary manager Jurgen Klopp left the club.
It has gone very well indeed. Liverpool have won an impressive 13 out of 15 games since Arne Slot succeeded Klopp in the summer, including on Saturday where they responded to a first half which Brighton had dominated.
How important is the trio?
Since Van Dijk’s £75m move from Southampton in January 2018 various injuries mean the trio have played together in just 59% of Liverpool’s matches, but their influence is obvious with 154 victories out of those 221 games.
They have become the heart of one of the great Liverpool teams, reaching the Champions League final three times, winning one, lifting their only Premier League title – and winning an FA Cup and two League Cups.
Salah was Liverpool’s most used player under Klopp, with Alexander-Arnold second and Van Dijk, now the club’s captain, fifth.
Meanwhile, only eight defenders have scored more Premier League goals than Van Dijk – and Liverpool’s win percentage drops from 70% to 52% when he does not play.
