phl63 Tottenham Vs Liverpool, EFL Cup Semi-Final: Arne Slot Ignoring Stars' Contract Speculation

Arne Slot says he does not listen to outside noise regarding Liverpool's star players as speculation continues to swirl around their contract situations. (More Football News)phl63

"It is a great honour to be nominated for the FIH Player of the Year Award again," the Indian defender stated in a Hockey India release.

India Win Gold Medal In Hero Asian Champions Trophy Moqi China 2024#hact2024#asiahockey pic.twitter.com/UgHJdtbgh9

Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who has been outspoken about this potentially being his “last year” at Anfield and sparked further speculation with a cryptic photo on social media on Monday, are all out of contract at the end of this season.

Salah, in particular, has shone for Liverpool so far this term, scoring 18 goals and laying on a further 13 assists in the Premier League. He has both scored and assisted in eight different matches in 2024-25, a single-season record in the competition.

All three players are now free to sign pre-contract agreements with non-English clubs, but despite the noise surrounding their futures, Slot says he is not listening to any of it.

"I talk with my players, if there's anything worrying them, they share it with me," Slot said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the EFL Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham.

"What I have shared with the players is what we have done against Manchester United, and what we are doing well against Manchester United.

"That is what we are focused on. I am not focused on social media posts or what people are saying. If you do that as Liverpool manager you will have no life, because people are always talking about us."

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Alexander-Arnold has been strongly linked with a move to Real Madrid, who supposedly saw a bid for his services rebuffed last week.

The 26-year-old came under criticism for his lacklustre performance in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Manchester United last Sunday, as Ruben Amorim’s side sent 54% of their attacks down his flank, scoring both of their goals from that side.

"I think we were all disappointed by the way we played [against United], not only Trent. First of all, about the result," added Slot.

"Parts of the game we could be quite satisfied with. Other parts of our game we weren't totally satisfied with. That was not only Trent. There were more things in the game that we could have done better.

"Trent did not play his best game. I've said that already, but that's not for the first time in his life.

"He's played many games so, so well for this club; now this wasn't his best, like for some others. We just pick it up and start training again today."

Liverpool now face Spurs in the first leg of their EFL Cup semi-final at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.

The Reds came out on top with a thrilling 6-3 victory when the sides met in the Premier League in December - the last English team to score 7+ goals away to Spurs in a single campaign in all competitions was Arsenal in 2010-11, while the most a team has scored at Spurs in a season is eight (Chelsea in 2001-02).

Holders Liverpool are looking to reach a second consecutive final, having progressed from seven of their last nine EFL Cup semi-final ties, though Slot remains wary of the threat Spurs have in attack.

"We expect before we go into the game is that two teams have such a clear identity and playing style. Both teams are trying to force that identity towards the other," Slot said.

"Large parts of the away game two weeks ago we could show our identity. But theyphl63, in large parts, showed how good they are. Scoring three goals against us is a big compliment."