Micah Richards REVEALS which of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold Liverpool could live without

Liverpool currently sit top of the Premier League table and look like a team ready to challenge under new head coach Arne Slot.

The Reds have put in a number of impressive performances so far this season and look to have improved defensively under Slot, having only conceded twice in their opening seven league games.

As well as having a strong defence, Liverpool have also been impressive on the attack and both Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz are in red-hot form.

Although the Reds have started the season well, they now face a very tough run that will really show how much progress the team has made under their new head coach.

READ MORE: Arsenal fans claim Bukayo Saka is ‘world class’ so what does that make Mohamed Salah?

Liverpool’s out of contract trio

The cloud hanging over Liverpool’s early season success is the ongoing contract situation involving three of the team’s biggest stars.

Salah, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk are all out of contract at the end of this season and progress seems to be stalling on negotiations for the trio to extend their stays in Merseyside.

The uncertainty surrounding the trio has caused a lot of discussion, including on The Rest is Football podcast, where Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards discussed which of the trio they would prioritise in contract negotiations.

Shearer revealed he shock at the situation, saying: “I’m amazed that all three of them have been allowed to get into their last year.”

“If you were building a team, who would you start with?” Richards asked his co-hosts, “Without Van Dijk Liverpool don’t win the league. They don’t win the Champions League.”

“I wouldn’t let any of them go but I feel as though you could still win the league without Trent. If you’ve got a solid centre half partnership and Salah scoring all the goals.”

Both Lineker and Shearer agreed that Salah should be the priority for the Reds.

When reflecting on whether Liverpool could lose the entire trio, Richards added: “They can’t let all of them three go, they can’t. It’s impossible. It’s impossible. They need to get them signed up ASAP.”

The situation at Liverpool

It has long been reported that negotiations will take place with the trio in order to try and agree extensions for all three players, but progress seems to have stalled since these reports.

A new contract was recently announced for Jarell Quansah and some Liverpool supporters will be starting to worry that the Reds could lose all three of their out-of-contract stars in June.

Salah is in fine form this season, Alexander-Arnold has been praised for his defensive improvement and Van Dijk looks to be back to his best under Slot but as it stands Liverpool will be looking to replace all three come the summer.

Even if, as Richards says, Liverpool could win the league without Alexander-Arnold, they will struggle to compete in any competition if they were to lose all three stars and so either extending or replacing them must become the priority at Anfield.

Arsenal fans claim Bukayo Saka is ‘world class’ so what does that make Mohamed Salah? 5 hours ago by Sam McGuire

Have Liverpool just admitted defeat in Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Van Dijk contract talks? 1 day ago by Sam McGuire

Liverpool lock down BRIGHT future with Richard Hughes’s BEST move to date 1 day ago by Alex Caple

Thomas Clark

I’m Thomas Clark, from the ever-sunny Scottsdale, Arizona. At 47, my life’s not your usual nine-to-five grind; I’m the voice behind the screen at FC Soccer News. My days are a mix of passion and professionalism as I weave words for the love of the game. University of Arizona’s where I honed my skills, but the real education came from the hours spent in local cafes, my eyes glued to my laptop, and my mind playing the field.

Soccer’s not just my beat—it’s the rhythm to my life. I analyze plays with a tactical mind and share insights that cut through the noise. Outside work, my appetite for adventure is as strong as a striker’s kick. The chef in me loves experimenting in the kitchen, and when the hiking trails call my name, I answer with boots laced tight. I’ve got music in my bones, and you’ll often find me lost in the melodies of a well-strummed guitar.

Away from the adrenaline of sports and the hum of daily life, my world orbits around my family. Dinner tables are our huddles, where laughter and stories bounce around like a well-played ball. Weekends are sacred—reserved for family bike rides and movie marathons, where I pass down my love for classics to my two bright kids. Parenthood’s more rewarding than any byline, and it’s taught me the true value of teamwork. My wife is my rock, my steady defender, offering unwavering support through every deadline and draft. Together, we’ve built a life that’s as dynamic as the games I cover—a blend of commitment, joy, and the unending chase of a story worth telling.