Arne Slot claims Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer speculation ‘can HELP’ Liverpool’s Premier League title bid with England star linked with Real Madrid switch

Arne Slot has dismissed the idea that speculation over Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future is destabilising – and even suggested it could be helpful to Liverpool’s title bid.

Real Madrid are stepping up their pursuit of the 26-year-old right back, who is out of contract at the end of this season, with the European champions seeing an approach to sign him in January turned down this week.

It is understood Liverpool have not yet received any official bids for Alexander-Arnold but sources in Spain say Real are extremely confident of tempting him to join them – most probably in the summer.

And Slot thinks it could be a good thing for Liverpool as it takes away scrutiny on their on-pitch performances, which are perhaps going under the radar. ‘No, maybe it’s even helpful now you ask me,’ he said when quizzed on whether it was a distraction.

‘Because if it is only about how great we are doing then maybe every week I have to have a meeting telling the players “it is not perfect yet” and we have to do better – now maybe it is also about different things (in the press) and not everyone is telling them how great they are.

‘So sometimes that can help as well. But for me it doesn’t distract at all, I think we get enough credit for the way we play – and here in the building we don’t even talk about this (speculation). Maybe in the building we do, but me with the players, we don’t talk about these situations.

Arne Slot however suggested that speculation over his star’s future could help his Reds side

Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid are thought to be extremely confident that they can sign the right back

‘It doesn’t distract at all, it is part of the business we’re in and and in the month of January it happens at every club in the world. People talk about, “Will he come in? Will he go away?” It doesn’t distract me at all and I don’t think (it does for) the players either.’

Slot, whose team host rivals Manchester United on Sunday, earlier insisted Alexander-Arnold is fully committed to Liverpool. When asked if he can categorically say he will not leave this month, the head coach said: ‘I can tell you he is playing on Sunday and hopefully brings the same performances as he brought in for the last half-year.

‘I see him on the training ground every day working his ass off. He is fully committed to us and he will play on Sunday – if they don’t tell me he is sick! But I don’t expect them to.’

Meanwhile, Joe Gomez is set to miss at least a few weeks with the hamstring injury he suffered at West Ham last week – but fellow defenders Ibrahima Konate and Conor Bradley trained with the team for the first time on Friday as they step up their recovery.