Ex-Liverpool striker Emile Heskey says that Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah will come under fire if the Reds start dropping more points in the Premier League.

All three players have contracts that expire at the end of the season and, speaking to Instant Casino, Heskey suggested that poor performances from the trio, such as from Alexander-Arnold against Manchester United, will be closely scrutinised:

“Has his head been turned by Real Madrid? I don’t think that’s the case, but after every poor result, every time he has a bad game, with that contract unsigned and his future unresolved, those questions will be asked every single time.”

“When Arne Slot faces those questions, all he can do is bat them away. Hopefully, he won’t have to face them too much because if he does, it means we’re dropping points or Trent’s dropping a poor performance. It will be exactly the same if Virgil or Mo have bad games.”

No progress has been made on new contracts

While Liverpool are still said to be in talks with Salah, van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, the chances of any of them signing on the dotted line in the near future looks low.

When asked for progress earlier this month, Salah said that a new deal was “far away” from being agreed. The fact that Real Madrid have been given encouragement in trying to lure Alexander-Arnold to Spain also doesn’t look promising.

Could Liverpool’s title challenge be affected?

The Reds are currently six points ahead of Arsenal with a game in hand heading into Tuesday evening’s game against Nottingham Forest so it is fair to say that contract negotiations have not had an adverse effect on the team.

However, if talks do drag on, it would suggest any agreement over an extension is unlikely and that could impact their performances in the closing months of the campaign.

Find out who is in Liverpool’s first-team squad for 2024/2025 season here