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Paul Merson believes Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mohamed Salah will also leave Liverpool(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

It's the scenario that no Liverpool supporter wants to see come to fruition.

But Paul Merson believes that the red-hot favourites to win the Premier League will lose their three out-of-contract stars in the summer.

Merson's former club Arsenal closed the gap on leaders Liverpool to nine points last night with a 2-1 triumph at home to Fulham.



But ahead of this evening's Merseyside derby at Anfield, nothing has changed for Arne Slot's table-topping side.

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The Reds know 16 points from the last 27 on offer will see them be crowned champions of England for a record-equalling 20th time and cap a remarkable debut campaign in charge for head coach Slot.

READ MORE:'I made the wrong decision' - Arne Slot admits Liverpool star should have started vs NewcastleREAD MORE:'They fit better' - Arne Slot makes blunt admission about Federico Chiesa and Harvey Elliott Liverpool roles

It is a campaign in which questions have persisted about the futures of captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and top goalscorer Mohamed Salah.

All three see their current contracts run out on June 30 and, as things stand, they will walk away from the club as free agents come July 1.

It appears increasingly likely that Alexander-Arnold will leave his boyhood team to join Real Madrid.

But Van Dijk and Salah have made it clear they would like to remain at Liverpool.

But with less than three months left on their deals, Merson believes they will all go - a situation he believes would be "criminal".

"I've been saying it for the last eight or nine months - I don't see any of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk signing at Liverpool," wrote the Gunners legend in his latest column for Sky Sports.

"Because I just don't know why you wouldn't have signed already.

Unless Liverpool are prepared to give them £30m, £40m in their bank account.

"If Liverpool want to keep on being successful and go again next year, they've got to keep Van Dijk and Salah, assuming Alexander-Arnold has already gone.

"I think Van Dijk and Salah are the best in the business in their positions.

If I could buy anybody, I'd buy them two.

"If you lose Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, you've lost half of the back four.
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