Slot unfazed by Alisson transfer talk
Arne Slot insisted goalkeeper Alisson Becker remains fully focused on his return to fitness despite rumours swirling of a potential departure from Liverpool this summer.
Alisson, who is out of contract at the end of next season, has reportedly been linked with a move away from Anfield, with Juventus a rumoured destination for the Brazilian.
The 33-year-old has been a key part of the Reds' success under both Jurgen Klopp and Slot, winning six major honours, which includes last year's Premier League title.
Since joining the club from Roma in 2018, Alisson has made 332 appearances in all competitions for Liverpool, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
Only former Manchester City shot-stopper and Brazil team-mate Ederson (143) has kept more clean sheets than Alisson's 137 since he arrived on Merseyside eight years ago among Premier League players in all competitions.
Alisson is currently sidelined with a knee injury and is expected to return for Liverpool's trip to Manchester United at the start of May.
With Giorgi Mamardashvili also out, third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman is expected to start against Crystal Palace this weekend.
"I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible," Slot said of the speculation surrounding Alisson.
"The answer is going to be that all these rumours that are out there about him and probably about me and about others, we don't react to rumours in this room, also not in my conversations with [sporting director] Richard [Hughes].
"We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment. The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for, and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for.
"That is Brazil. I think that is already the short and mid-term future."
Alisson and Mamardashvili are not the only players on the injury table for Liverpool, with Hugo Ekitike also facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a serious achilles injury.
Ekitike, who registered 23 goal involvements (17 goals, six assists) in his debut season with the club, is expected not to feature for around nine to 12 months for the Reds.
The France international will also miss the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but Slot backed his striker to come back stronger after undergoing successful surgery to repair the issue.
"The surgery went well," Slot said. "That was the first and important step he had to take.
"In such a long rehab process, there are so many crucial steps to be taken before you can say it is going to take that number of months or that amount of months.
"It is going to take a long time. Everyone can not really call the surgeon and ask him how long it is going to take, they will tell you multiple months.
"Then it all depends on how rehab goes. He is a very explosive player, which is usually not helpful if you have this injury, but maybe he is the exception to this.
"We don't know yet, but the first and most important step is that the surgery went well, and he can now work on his recovery, which is going to take a long time.
"But he will be back stronger, like all the others who have been injured for such a long time.
"Giovanni Leoni, I don't know if you want to know, but I have seen some Instagram posts from the club – this guy has become a beast."
