Liverpool are back in action this week, with the main talking point in recent weeks being around Trent Alexander-Arnold’s future.

The England international is set to become a free agent at the end of this season, with news breaking the international break that Real Madrid were close to reaching an agreement with Alexander-Arnold to bring the defender to Spain.

With Alexander-Arnold still out injured, there will be some hope amongst Liverpool fans that the 26-year-old right-back recovers in time to play again for the Reds before the end of the season, where the fullback deserves a real send-off.

And Arne Slot has now commented on Alexander-Arnold’s future for the first time since news broke over the international break.

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Speaking to the press ahead of Wednesday’s Merseyside derby, the Liverpool manager was as conservative as one could be when talking about Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Madrid, with the Dutch coach opting to praise the defender, given his ongoing contract situation.

Slot said when asked about Alexander-Arnold: “It’s a situation that’s been there for eight or nine months, and all these players who can leave for free have played so well under these circumstances, so it doesn’t affect me at all.”

Although the likes of Jamie Carragher have criticised Alexander-Arnold’s pending move to Madrid, the Liverpool defender will still go down with many supporters as one of the best academy players to come through the club in the last 50 years.

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And with Alexander-Arnold likely to lead Liverpool to a second Premier League title, the fullback has more than earned the right to decide for himself what he wants to do with his career, with a move to Madrid one that no player will turn down at the peak of their powers.

Given the scale of Alexander-Arnold’s move to Madrid, it’s no surprise that the first question asked to Slot in today’s press conference was about the Liverpool defender, yet the Dutch manager was quick to deflect any talk of a potential transfer and to instead focus on the fullback’s recovery.

Slot said when asked about Madrid’s move for Alexander-Arnold: “His situation is that, unfortunately, he’s injured, otherwise people will be speaking about his one or two brilliant performances for England.

But he’s injured, which means he’s fully focused on his recovery.

“The rest, of course, for eight months, there’s been all kinds of talk about him, Virgil or Mo, but we’ve never been focused on those talks, we have to focus on what we do, and for Virgil and Mo, it’s trying to win the Merseyside derby, and for Trent, it’s making sure he’s as fit as soon as he can.”