Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has dismissed the notion that team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold's performance in the recent match against Manchester United was influenced by speculation about his future.
In Sunday's 2-2 Premier League draw at Anfield, right-back Alexander-Arnold struggled to maintain his usual form. He notably gave away the ball prior to United taking the lead and was replaced by Conor Bradley after 86 minutes of play.
The week leading up to this crucial match saw intensified speculation about Alexander-Arnold's future with Liverpool. Sources revealed that an approach from Real Madrid regarding a potential January signing of the England international had been rejected by Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold, along with Van Dijk and forward Mohamed Salah, is out of contract in summer and can officially begin negotiations with clubs abroad.
No impact on performance
When asked if these rumours had affected his team-mate’s performance on Sunday, Van Dijk firmly took stand for himself and his mate.
Liverpool captain, Virgil van Dijk, said:
"No. I am fine with it.
"Trent has his own people around him, his family and we are there as well. He wants to perform in the best way possible like we all do. That is the main focus."
Van Dijk himself has been involved in contract extension talks since October but reported no updates following Sunday’s Manchester United fixture.
Uncertainty surrounds Salah’s contract situation
Mohamed Salah recently expressed dissatisfaction over his own contract situation saying "we are far away from any progress". Despite this uncertainty off-field, he posted a picture on social media featuring himself alongside Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk during Sunday's match at Anfield.
This article serves as an insight into how professional footballers like Virgil van Dijk perceive transfer speculations and their potential impact on performances. It also highlights the ongoing contract situations of key Liverpool players, adding another layer to the narrative of their season.
