Until Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool future is decided, there is going to be plenty more speculation. And in the case of Salah and Alexander-Arnold, it seems particularly loud.

Salah reiterated that his representatives and Liverpool are still a "long way" apart in negotiations ahead of the 2-2 draw with Manchester United. Alexander-Arnold's performance in that game, meanwhile, was not good, meaning the inevitable chatter about whether he was distracted has begun.

"It almost felt to me like [Salah was thinking] 'there's too much talk of Trent here' for the last week or so," Jamie Carragher said on The Gary Neville podcast when he was asked about the Egyptian's latest comments. "'Has everyone forgotten I'm in my last year?'. Mo, we are well aware you're in your last year!

READ MORE: Forgotten Liverpool star loved by Jurgen Klopp 'to return in January transfer window'

READ MORE: Mohamed Salah hits back at Jamie Carragher with 8-word response after contract message

• Liverpool next five fixtures compared to Arsenal as major Arne Slot opportunity becomes clear

• Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Trent Alexander-Arnold mega offer, Chiesa loan, Man Utd fallout

"What I would say to Mo Salah in his interviews, we know you're in your last year — we're all desperate for you to sign and fingers crossed it gets sorted. You're in the form of your life.

"But think about that manager who has come in. Every three days, he is getting questions about your contract. It is easy to bat away questions from a journalist saying 'What's the situation with the contract?'. 'Nothing to say'.

"But when that journalist comes in and says 'Mo Salah has just said this', or 'Real Madrid have put this bid in for Trent Alexander-Arnold', it puts the manager in a really difficult position. This manager, what he has done since he came in, it has been out of this world.

"He has been one of the revelations of the Premier League and I would just say to those players: This is going on in the background; you don't need to keep reminding us because we all know about it. Don't be getting quoted on it and putting this manager under pressure every three days when he has to answer something about your contract.

"You are all in the team together and the most important thing is Liverpool winning the league. If your contracts get sorted at the end of the season, that's a bonus. I'd be delighted, but the most important thing is the club. Never forget that."

Each of the three Liverpool players who are inside the final months of their deals are now free to negotiate with clubs abroad about a potential move in the summer when their contracts expire. Ideally, though, the Reds would be able to keep all of them with a breakthrough in negotiations.

Liverpool.com says: All three of Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold are vital to keep. At least in the case of Salah and Van Dijk, it looks like they are going to stay. With Alexander-Arnold, the Real Madrid element adds another layer to the saga.