Twist of fate puts Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold on COLLISION course

Liverpool are still yet to come to an agreement on new deals for Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

The trio are out of contract at the end of the season and are just weeks away from being able to sign pre-contract agreements with foreign clubs in January.

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While Virgil van Dijk is set to stay at the club, as exclusively reported by Anfield Watch, both Salah and Trent’s futures are still as up in the air as ever.

Salah has expressed his frustration at the lack of a contract offer from the club, and rumours continue to swirl around where he will be next season.

Real Madrid remain committed to signing Trent on a free transfer at the end of the season, although the Reds are “trying” to renew his deal, according to journalist David Ornstein.

While both stars could sign new contracts in the coming weeks, there remains a world in which Salah and Trent are not at Anfield next season.

It would be a disaster for Liverpool to lose two of their most important players, but if both were to exit, it would set up a surprise reunion with former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders.

Club World Cup draw

The FIFA Club World Cup takes place next summer, with 32 teams set to take part in a new, expanded format.

Liverpool won’t be competing in the competition, but this week’s group stage draw - helmed by former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius’ wife Diletta Leotta - did throw up some interesting fixtures for Reds fans, with Group H in particular one to watch out for.

That group involves Real Madrid, Al-Hilal, Pachuca and Red Bull Salzburg.

With Trent being linked with a move to Madrid, and Al-Hilal one of Salah’s most likely destinations if he decides to move to Saudi Arabia, both players could play against their former coach Lijnders.

The Dutch coach is now in charge at Red Bull Salzburg, having left the club alongside Jurgen Klopp at the end of last season.

While all three could face each other next summer, at this stage it would be a surprise if all three were to be in the USA for the competition.

Salah has made it clear that his preference is to stay at Anfield. Egyptian analyst Haytham Farouk shared a tweet earlier this week which appeared to hint at an impending renewal, while PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi has distanced the French side from an approach.

If Trent does leave Liverpool, it will be to Madrid, but his form for Arne Slot this season has only served to emphasise his importance to the club.

Red Bull Salzburg have been poor under Lijnders this season, and if their form continues it would be surprising if he was still at the club next season.

A reunion in the States remains a distant possibility, for now.

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