Slot unsure if Alexander-Arnold will play in Liverpool season finale / Photo: PETER POWELL - AFP/File
Slot unsure if Alexander-Arnold will play in Liverpool season finale
Arne Slot has not yet decided whether Trent Alexander-Arnold will play in Liverpool's season finale, but the Reds boss believes his outgoing star "deserves" to be part of the title celebrations.
The England defender announced his decision to quit his boyhood club earlier this month and is widely expected to join Real Madrid.
He was booed by Liverpool fans when he came on as a second-half substitute in last week's 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Anfield and did not play in Liverpool's 3-2 defeat at Brighton on Monday.
Liverpool, who wrapped up the Premier League title last month with four games to spare, will be presented with the trophy after Sunday's game against FA Cup winners Crystal Palace.
Slot was asked by reporters on Friday whether he had concerns that the celebrations would be overshadowed by an negative reaction to Alexander-Arnold.
He said he had yet to make a decision on the extent of the right-back's involvement.
"I haven't decided on that one yet but I think this should be a day that everybody is going to enjoy," he said. "It's been 35 years everybody is waiting for this moment."
Liverpool lifted the 2020 Premier League trophy behind closed doors due to Covid restrictions.
- Trent 'deserves' celebration -
Slot, in his first season at Anfield, said celebrations after Liverpool sealed the title against Tottenham were special.
"I'm hoping that we can add a moment like this to it and I think everybody that's in this stadium deserves to be there, the fans, the staff, but also the players," he said.
"One of my players is Trent so he definitely deserves to be there as well because he's been part of an incredibly successful season and an incredibly successful (few) years at this club."
Slot was asked whether Liverpool had the potential to dominate the Premier League in the way that Manchester City have done in recent years.
The Dutchman said the key was whether his men would show a "serial winner mentality".
"I get the answer already on the 8th of July when we come back together to see in what shape the players are because many teams have won the Premier League once but not many have won it multiple seasons in a row," he said.
"That's for a reason first of all because it's so difficult, second of all that not every player has this elite mentality."
Slot singled out Mohamed Salah, who has enjoyed a stellar season, scoring 33 goals and making 23 assists in all competitions.
"When I talk about Mo, it's not a coincidence that he's for seven years already on a certain level and last season he was the one that was the fittest when we arrived back after the break," he said.
"So that is a mentality you need to have, to have a chance of becoming a serial winner and this is something we have to prove, the players have to prove, and me as well."
E.Reyes--RTC
