Mark Lawrenson gives surprising view on Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool contracts

Liverpool great Mark Lawrenson doesn’t believe Trent Alexander-Arnold should be criticised if he leaves the Reds this summer.

The former Reds defender also reckons it is more important they keep hold of Virgil van Dijk and Mo Salah.

All three Liverpool stars are out of contract this summer and have yet to agree new deals with the club. Alexander-Arnold, 26, is wanted by Real Madrid but is still in talks about staying at Anfield. While Van Dijk and Salah are also in contact with the club with hopes still high that they will remain at the club beyond this summer.

"Everyone seems to think Trent’s going and I think he probably will,” said Lawrenson, who won five league titles and a European Cup in his seven years at Anfield. “In all honesty, he doesn’t owe anybody anything.”

Van Dijk, 33, has been a rock at the back for the Reds this season as they’ve kept 12 clean sheets in the Premier League, which they lead by 13 points.

“I think the importance is the other two,” added Lawrenson. “Van Diljk is above anyone as the most important one. He holds the whole thing together, not that it needs too much holding together!

“But he is absolutely pivotal – the captain, the guy in the dressing room, all those kinds of things.”

Salah, 32, is also crucial and with his 52 goal involvements so far this season as the Reds go for three major trophies, Lawrenson reckons a new deal is a must. The former Reds defender believes Salah is the best in the world at the moment.

Image: Getty Images) Getty Images)

He said: “If it were me, I’d offer him a one year contract with a one year option. Only because I’m not sure next year he can possibly be as good as he is this year. This year he’s been sensational. He’s more of a team player.

"Don’t get me wrong, he’s been great since he’s been there, but there was a bit of a spell where he it was kind of like, give it to me and I’ll score when actually other people were better off in terms of scoring the goal.

“But I think he’s got over that and he’s a little bit more of a team player and he’s had an unbelievable season. Good luck to him. I cannot think of anybody any better than him. Even looking at the boys that play in Spain, I think they’re looking at him saying, ‘what a player he is!’

“He’s at the very very peak of his career. In relation to his contract, even if he’s three-quarters as good next year, it’s still going to be good enough with lots of goals.”

Mark Lawrenson was speaking on behalf of Freebets.com non-league Love your Club campaign

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