Arne Slot said nothing has changed with the three Liverpool players whose contracts expire in the summer, despite Trent Alexander-Arnold's pointed celebration during the 5-0 win at West Ham United. Slot, though, believes that says enough.

The right-back netted the fourth goal - with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Diogo Jota also on target - and Alexander-Arnold celebrated by making a talking sign with his hand, in response to recent media speculation.

Reports from two Spanish outlets in the last few days have claimed the England international’s move to Real Madrid this summer looks certain. But Slot continues to avoid adding fuel to the fire and said for him the situation has not changed even though Alexander-Arnold, Salah and Virgil van Dijk can begin negotiations with foreign clubs next week.

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“I don't think it's negative at all,” Slot said. “He [Alexander-Arnold] scored a great goal, the way he celebrated that goal tells you enough. I don't think I have to say much more about it. I'm really happy with Trent, just as happy as I am with Mo and Virgil, so for me there's no difference. Maybe in the outside world but I'm really happy with all three."

“People will be talking more about it, not only about these three but also about other players, it's always a month where players can make a transfer,” he added on the January window. “So it won't just be about these three but it will also be about the players we could bring in, or ones who could also leave. That's always the thing with summer and January.”

As for the game, it was another evening in which Liverpool’s attacking players sparkled. Salah in particular was sublime and his performance promoted post-match questions about whether he is currently the best player in the world.

But Slot did warn that it could have been different had West Ham taken their chances, with Mohammed Kudus twice hitting the woodwork.

“It doesn’t happen many times that I could just sit back and enjoy,” he told Sky Sports. “I thought it was the situation against Tottenham when we were 5-1 up but they came back to 5-3. Today, we controled all the game and won 5-0. I think it’s about conceding the chances,” he added. “Today, I think we conceded two or three; one hit the bar and one hit the post and Leicester had two chances and scored one [on Boxing Day].

“I think during the whole season we have created quite a lot of chances and now on days like today we score many. Although, as I’ve just said to the players, it was 3-0 at half-time but it wouldn’t have been if after 10 minutes it would already been 3-0 because we created a lot of chances today.”