Alexander-Arnold, Salah or Van Dijk?

[Acheron]

On current form Salah although because of his age it must suckto lose Alexander Arnold. All in all it's really a bad situation to have all 3 them on their last year and none of them would be easy to replace.

 

[TheReligion]

Because players have certain demands, especially all-time greats who have done a lot for their club already. But if you look at it from the club's perspective, the inevitable decline is coming for both van Dijk and Salah.

What if you cave in and you give both players a multi-year contract with a salary bump as well, and then they both become washed up at the same time, maybe as early as into next season? You'll have two players in their 30s with astronomical wages, not contributing nearly enough, if that happens.

Similar to how we had Ronaldo and De Gea on 515k and 375k per week respectively, or how we currently employ Casemiro for 350k per week. I could include Varane at 340k too if I was being harsh. I think Liverpool will want to avoid a scenario like this, especially when they aren't as rich as United.

Salah is already on £350k per week

 

[Powderfinger]

Because players have certain demands, especially all-time greats who have done a lot for their club already. But if you look at it from the club's perspective, the inevitable decline is coming for both van Dijk and Salah.

What if you cave in and you give both players a multi-year contract with a salary bump as well, and then they both become washed up at the same time, maybe as early as into next season? You'll have two players in their 30s with astronomical wages, not contributing nearly enough, if that happens.

Similar to how we had Ronaldo and De Gea on 515k and 375k per week respectively, or how we currently employ Casemiro for 350k per week. I could include Varane at 340k too if I was being harsh. I think Liverpool will want to avoid a scenario like this, especially when they aren't as rich as United.

Yup. My suspicion with Salah and Van Dijk is that its less about the wages and more about the years. They probably are asking for 3+ year guaranteed contracts and the club likely would prefer a year-to-year arrangement or a 1+1 type deal.

My suspicion is that Van Dijk is just a matter of negotiation and he will resign eventually, probably on a two year deal at huge wages for a defender. With Salah, Saudia Arabia is offering such astronomical money that it likely just comes down to his preference of whether to try to play top level for a more years or just cash in now and ensure the biggest payout possible. Ronaldo is near the end and Saudi seemingly would like Salah to be the face of their league for a while and is offering similar money in the 200m per year range. So it doesn't really matter what Liverpool offers in a sense, you can't compete with that if the issue comes down to money for him.

 

[B20]

He's no worse than Salah.

Both of them disappear for long stretches of the game and suddenly pop up with an incredible moment. But Salah obviously gets the headlines because he's puts the finishing touches on the move, and Trent gets pelters because a mistake from him means a goal scoring chance for the opposition.

Trent seems to get quite a bit of disrespect in these discussions. Probably also why he doesn't have a problem leaving. He senses that he's not loved anywhere near these two despite being a local lad who's won everything there is to win with the club.

A few years ago, he'd absolutely dominate games. If he were playing at the level I know he can, he'd be an easy choice.

Salah and VVD are. With TAA it's a bit more erratic.

He's still the best right back I've seen in a red shirt and imo the best of the pl era.

The other two have those claims for their position locked in handily as well though.

I think they are more likely to yield a title or two more over the next two years than TAA is over the next five.

 

[HappyCamper]

Salah, VvD and Trent for me. With Salah as the clear priority.

With Klopp as the manager I would have reversed the order and gone all in on keeping Trent, with Salah as the least important player.

 

[duffer]

Trent is a local guy who came through the ranks where Salah and VVD have both played for multiple clubs. Sadly the loyal players get kinda shafted when it comes to wages.

 

[Rojofiam]

Last year for isntance they didn't have him for a long stretch and the team was playing really great, so he can be "replaced", yet not with another Trent.

Trent sometimes can be a double edge sword, when he is on his more Brunesque days trying the ultimate hollywood ball too much, when he tends to drift without a more clever pattern (and sometimes this neglects some defesive task asigned), he can be disruptive not on the best way (as he can be of course in the good side of the coin).

Liverpool BTW can try to seek for someone else mostly purely focus in the offensive/control department (with some dribbling/passing and more pause in him, it's a pitty for them that they could never have Alcantara filling that role due to his injuries) to add an extra quote of creativity these days with Macca coming from so deep with many defensive tasks involved and Slobo/Curtis/Trent/Diaz, etc also being players prone to the momentum, to the flashy attempt than those combine with a more methodic approach, that anyway Arne demands from them, they rarely loose their shape thse days like with Jurgen.
Arne has made them quite a more pragmatic block and Trent has been a lot less expose if he tries something fancy and that's great to relief him from an unnecessary burden and helps him to show his best side more often, they are a ver compact team, with many polivalent fellas.

I think the risk-taking part of his game is actually one of his tasks on the pitch. Much like Bruno and KDB for example, but from the right-back position. He can be a chance creation machine similar to some of the best number 10s in world football. Probably better than a lot of them, to be honest. This is one of the biggest things that make him so valuable and unique.

I think Slot has brought in way more control and "pausa" into this Liverpool side, compared to Klopp, who was way more direct, and it's working very well so far, so I don't see the need to put Trent on a leash as well.

 

[B20]

Trent has already been leashed insofar as his heatmap shows he doesn't go as quite as much forward and not nearly as much central.

I like him in this role though. His forward forays are far more geared towards using the spaces vacated when the opposition focus on Salah. We were never good at exploiting that under Klopp, so he finds himself in good positions more often these days.

I'd never blame him for being caught upfield, that's part of his job. But I do mind him being so easy to go past in duels. That's something he's improved on a lot this season.

I am still missing the at-will sumptuous passing though. He pulls it out on occasion, but it's not as good as we know it can be. Currently he is 'merely' a really good top team player. Not the defining world class player he has the ability to be.

 

[Fobal]

I think the risk-taking part of his game is actually one of his tasks on the pitch. Much like Bruno and KDB for example, but from the right-back position. He can be a chance creation machine similar to some of the best number 10s in world football. Probably better than a lot of them, to be honest. This is one of the biggest things that make him so valuable and unique.

I think Slot has brought in way more control and "pausa" into this Liverpool side, compared to Klopp, who was way more direct, and it's working very well so far, so I don't see the need to put Trent on a leash as well.

Arne clearly has given him directions, he is not running all over the pitch like a headless chicken and at the same time, yes if he has a more or less day off, or too much on the careless side or a bit chaotic, this team it's more prepare than Jurgen's one to deal with it and at the same time allow him to provide his usual great ball. I don't rate him as high as you do, in terms of yes or yes keeping him right now if that will cost to loose Virgil and Moh, but I do like the lad quite a lot.

The thing it's that currently the two oldies provide more substance and Virgil (even in one leg) in particular adds brains to a team full of Trents in terms of attitude, let's arbitrary call them instinctive players, that has to be compensated. Even Moh is a player that tends to go up and low within games like it was talked above.

On an ideal world, they have to keep all of them, in a short term solution if Trent wants to go or the money is silly, in my view it's more convenient for the near future to let him go and buy instantly some proven lad or some high profile young bet.

 

[Chairman Steve]

Salah is the one to keep. A player like him doesn’t come around often at all and it’s an unenviable task for whoever is responsible for acquiring his replacement, as well as the replacement himself and the existing squad players to step up and make up those numbers.

At the same time, how long does he have left? If he were to get that juicy contract from FSG, does the desire to keep going remain or does it subconsciously diminish because you’ve secured your ‘pension’ and you can sit on it for the duration of the contract if you wanted too.

Liverpool losing 2 of those 3 guys as free transfers this summer would be horrendous business, especially if TAA is actually going to Real on a free as he’s the youngest at 26 (therefore the one you could arguably get more money for) and the other two will be 33-34 next year. You don’t see many (if any) big money signings these days for players at that age. They usually come in on a free to mitigate the risk of Father Time claiming them, like Lewandowski to Barcelona or Zlatan to United.

So it’s a bit of a headache they’re in. They put Salah and VVD on new contracts but there’s no guarantee they’re going to keep going at the same level and they miss out younger talents who come on the scene.

 

[TheReligion]

it’s a right old mess for them isn’t it? Great to see!

They look likely to lose the player with the most value to them for nothing (Trent) and it’s a gamble with how long and how much to give the other two as they are both already in their 30s (Salah 33 and VVD 34 in the summer)

 

[Klopper76]

it’s a right old mess for them isn’t it? Great to see!

They look likely to lose the player with the most value to them for nothing (Trent) and it’s a gamble with how long and how much to give the other two as they are both already in their 30s (Salah 33 and VVD 34 in the summer)

I expect Salah and Van Dijk to stay and still perform at a high level for a couple more seasons.

Trent is disappointing.i get why Madrid is tempting but he could become just another player there. Could also struggle and go the way of Coutinho or Torres. He’ll have more chances to win trophies with them for sure. That player of the year dream is never happening regardless of where he plays.

They’re all impossible to replace fully for different reasons. Salah’s output can’t be replicated easily. Van Dijk’s defensive capabilities and leadership are irreplaceable, and we’ll never find a RB who is as good on the ball as TAA.
It’s about reinventing the side as a whole, and how well Slot does with that.

I think I’d be more concerned if we were sitting in the bottom half (I’ll use 14th as an arbitrary number). We’re top of the league and playing well. I’d rather enjoy that now and worry about player contracts once the season is done.

 

[njred]

it’s a right old mess for them isn’t it? Great to see!

They look likely to lose the player with the most value to them for nothing (Trent) and it’s a gamble with how long and how much to give the other two as they are both already in their 30s (Salah 33 and VVD 34 in the summer)

Yes, we are a complete disaster with one foot ready to step on back on the perch for good. The two players in their 30s are good for another 3 years whilst the rest of the team just gets stronger every moment. The right old mess is 14 or 15 rungs below us somewhere lost and adrift.

 

[TheReligion]

Yes, we are a complete disaster with one foot ready to step on back on the perch for good. The two players in their 30s are good for another 3 years whilst the rest of the team just gets stronger every moment. The right old mess is 14 or 15 rungs below us somewhere lost and adrift.

So you think Salah and VVD will be mainstays in your team at 36 and 37?

 

[TheReligion]

I expect Salah and Van Dijk to stay and still perform at a high level for a couple more seasons.

Trent is disappointing.i get why Madrid is tempting but he could become just another player there. Could also struggle and go the way of Coutinho or Torres. He’ll have more chances to win trophies with them for sure. That player of the year dream is never happening regardless of where he plays.

They’re all impossible to replace fully for different reasons. Salah’s output can’t be replicated easily. Van Dijk’s defensive capabilities and leadership are irreplaceable, and we’ll never find a RB who is as good on the ball as TAA.
It’s about reinventing the side as a whole, and how well Slot does with that.

I think I’d be more concerned if we were sitting in the bottom half (I’ll use 14th as an arbitrary number). We’re top of the league and playing well. I’d rather enjoy that now and worry about player contracts once the season is done.

I guess burying your head in the sand will work for a bit.

The interesting thing will be how long and how much you give Salah and VVD (the former already on £350k per week).

A couple of seasons will see them at 35 and 36 respectively.

 

[Rojofiam]

Arne clearly has given him directions, he is not running all over the pitch like a headless chicken and at the same time, yes if he has a more or less day off, or too much on the careless side or a bit chaotic, this team it's more prepare than Jurgen's one to deal with it and at the same time allow him to provide his usual great ball. I don't rate him as high as you do, in terms of yes or yes keeping him right now if that will cost to loose Virgil and Moh, but I do like the lad quite a lot.

The thing it's that currently the two oldies provide more substance and Virgil (even in one leg) in particular adds brains to a team full of Trents in terms of attitude, let's arbitrary call them instinctive players, that has to be compensated. Even Moh is a player that tends to go up and low within games like it was talked above.

On an ideal world, they have to keep all of them, in a short term solution if Trent wants to go or the money is silly, in my view it's more convenient for the near future to let him go and buy instantly some proven lad or some high profile young bet.

I'd rate both Salah and van Dijk way above Trent tbf. Like I said, though, Trent is 26 and the others are in their mid 30s.

 

[General_Elegancia]

Van Dijk. Salah's the best player in the world, but Van Dijk is the bedrock for their whole system.

Agree

His command of the defensive line is absolutely crucial, and I do not believe any of the other defenders in this team could organize the backline as effectively as he does.

 

[Remember the geese]

Funny how we see the situation differently. Trent would be the one I'd be choosing to keep. Younger than the other two and massively unique in terms of his creativity, vision and passing ability in that position. Salah is probably the best player in the world, so he would be second in line for me. I wouldn't be too fussed about Van Dijk leaving. I consider him to be quite overrated.

 

[Crackers]

Salah by a country mile. We lack someone with pace, experience and composure upfront. He'd be an incredible stopgap

 

[tomaldinho1]

Salah is irreplaceable.

The other two could be ‘replaced’ in my mind.

 

[noodlehair]

Salah. Obviously.

I mean how is this even remotely a debate?

 

[tentan]

Salah. Obviously.

I mean how is this even remotely a debate?

Pool wouldn't struggle more with VD out?

 

[Posh Red]

Is there any rumours on any of these three signing new deals?

 

[Klopper76]

Salah. Obviously.

I mean how is this even remotely a debate?

The answer is. Van Dijk imo. He’s more irreplaceable than the other two.

Is there any rumours on any of these three signing new deals?

I genuinely have no idea. They might’ve already signed or they’re already leaving. I feel like they’ll all stay or all go. There’s no middle ground.

 

[MaMa given red]

The answer is. Van Dijk imo. He’s more irreplaceable than the other two.

I genuinely have no idea. They might’ve already signed or they’re already leaving. I feel like they’ll all stay or all go. There’s no middle ground.

It will set Liverpool back years if they lose all three on a free transfer. It's almost impossible to replace that sort of quality in one go.