All three will be out of contract next summer, but Richard Hughes' primary concern should be convincing their homegrown hero to stay at Anfield

Trent Alexander-Arnold politely declined requests to stop and speak to journalists in the mixed zone at Portman Road on Saturday. "I don't know what you'd possibly want to speak to me about!" the Liverpool star said with a knowing smile on his face.

Alexander-Arnold had been the best player on the pitch in his team's Premier League opener at Ipswich, utterly integral to Arne Slot's reign beginning with an encouraging 2-0 win, with the stunning pass that led to the game's opener the undoubted highlight of the England international's crucial contribution.

However, the right-back was acutely aware that the waiting reporters didn't just want to speak about his influential performance. He knew full well that he would also have had to field questions about his future, given his current contract expires next summer.

In that context, Alexander-Arnold couldn't have handled the situation much better. He poured cold water on the burning issue of the day with an amusing response to interview requests.

However, the fact that Liverpool have yet to agree an extension with Alexander-Arnold is no laughing matter for the fans, who are understandably horrified by the prospect of losing a homegrown hero for nothing at the end of the season.

GettyWhat are Liverpool waiting for?!

Of course, Alexander-Arnold isn't the only Liverpool player at Anfield who will be in a position to speak to other clubs from January 1 on. Captain Virgil van Dijk and talisman Mohamed Salah have also entered the final year of their respective deals.

It's an unbelievable position for Liverpool to find themselves in. Finalising renewals can obviously be a tricky business, and it can take time to reach an agreement. An awful lot of financial and sporting considerations have to be factored into the equation: age, salary demands, sell-on value, injury issues, image rights etc.

However, it is astounding that these particular negotiations have been allowed to drag on this long. After all, it's not as if Liverpool have been busy buying other players this summer. Richard Hughes has yet to make a single signing since becoming the club's new sporting director at the end of the 2023-24 season.

The fans are, therefore, perfectly entitled to ask why the new season has been allowed to get under way with Liverpool yet to tie down three of their most important players – all of whom served timely reminders of their worth at Ipswich.

AdvertisementGetty Still no new deal for Van Dijk

Van Dijk was once again majestic at the back. From a defensive perspective, he coasted through the game with his customary class and was typically dominant in the air.

He was also heavily involved in Liverpool's build-up play: no Liverpool player had more touches of the ball (89) while he also boasted the best pass completion rate of all Slot's starters (94.1 percent).

Tougher tests obviously lie in wait for the Dutchman but, even at 33, it's clear that he remains one of the most accomplished centre-backs in the world and it's easy to understand why Netherlands legend Marco van Basten believes Van Dijk will relish playing under Slot, who is all about patiently building play from the back.

It, thus, came as quite a shock to hear Van Dijk reveal after Liverpool's pre-season friendly against Sevilla just over a week ago that there was "no change" in terms of his contractual situation.

GettySalah's future still uncertain

As for Salah, he made good on his pre-season promise by hitting the ground running. 'The Egyptian King' looked nothing like the ineffective and fatigued figure we saw at the end of last season, with his goal and assist at Portman Road testament to the benefits of an entire summer off.

If Salah stays fit for the duration of the 2024-25 campaign, there's no reason why he won't score 30 goals or more for what would be the fifth time in eight seasons at Anfield. In that context, it's bizarre that Salah still hasn't signed a renewal, particularly as an obscene amount of money could have been made by selling the prolific winger to a Saudi Pro League club during the summer.

With Salah having turned 32 in June, Liverpool may never get that chance again – and yet the word is that there are no negotiations going on at the moment, with neither party in a rush to resolve the matter. It's a staggering stage of affairs, and yet it is Alexander-Arnold's situation which is most concerning.

Getty Images Sport'Losing Trent would be a disaster'

Both Salah and Van Dijk clearly still have plenty left to offer at the highest level – the former reportedly believes that he could continue at the top until he's 40, which is unsurprising for a player with such an impressive physique and relatively unblemished injury record. However, there's simply no hiding the fact that the senior duo are approaching the twilight of their careers. Alexander-Arnold, by contrast, still has his very best years ahead of him.

What's more, as a local lad blessed with world-class qualities, he is perfectly placed to become the leader of a new era at Anfield, the symbol of Slot's side. As former Liverpool striker John Aldridge recently wrote in , "losing Alexander-Arnold in his prime would be a disaster." And to lose him for nothing would be utterly unforgivable.

The more time that passes, though, the more chance there is of this nightmare scenario becoming a reality.