Liverpool: Arne Slot reacts after Mohamed Salah reveals stance on ongoing contract saga | OneFootball

Reds star caused controversy with an interview given after his match-winning heroics against Southampton

Liverpool manager Arne Slot has insisted that Mohamed Salah is not being distracted by contract talks and ongoing speculation about his future.

The Egypt international sees his current deal at Anfield expire at the end of the season and he caused quite a stir with comments following Sunday's 3-2 win over Southampton where he scored twice to help the Reds open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

Speaking to reporters at St Mary’s, Salah revealed he was "disappointed" at not yet being offered a new contract and is "probably more out than in" in terms of his future at the club.

This prompted Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher to label Salah as “selfish” for the public approach taken by the forward and his camp.

Though, whilst the former defender expressed a concern over Salah's ongoing contract saga potentially taking precedence over the club’s bid for on-field glory, Slot has insisted that is not the case.

"The only thing I can say is, if I look at my lineups, Mo is more in than out," he said in a news conference ahead of Liverpool's huge Champions League clash against holders Real Madrid.

Fully focused: Arne Slot is not worried about Mohamed Salah’s contract saga affecting either the player or his team

Liverpool FC via Getty Images

"If you would have been at the Axa [training ground] today, I don't think any player spoke about it, at least not when I was there.

"Players are focused on the short-term and that is Madrid and that is [Manchester] City. There is no distraction for him, the players and definitely not for me."

Liverpool left-back Andy Robertson echoed the thoughts of his manager when the question was put to him as he too went in front of the media on Tuesday afternoon.

"I thought that was going to be your first question," he stated. "Honestly, for us as players, it’s nothing we can really get involved in.

"All I can say is, you look at Mo today, yesterday, he’s the ultimate professional.

"In fairness, it goes for all three of them. Mo, Virgil [van Dijk] and Trent [Alexander-Arnold],who are all in similar positions, every one of them is so focused on the next game and training and preparing properly.

"They’ve been leaders this year, that’s the way they’ve done it. For us, in the changing room, I think if they can do that, then we can do that.

"We don’t get distracted by anything else, they’re not getting distracted. We’re all just excited about the game tomorrow night."

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