Liverpool face neighbours Everton in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Wednesday as the Reds return to action for the first time since their hopes of spectacular treble were blown away in the space of five dismal days.
Arne Slot's side are looking to refocus on securing the club's 20th English top-flight crown after suffering the double blow of being knocked out of the Uefa Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain, and losing the League Cup final to Newcastle United.
Then, during the international break that followed the Wembley defeat, reports emerged in the UK media that defender Trent Alexander-Arnold had begun talks with Real Madrid about finalising a summer move to Spain.
There has been relentless speculation about the future of Alexander-Arnold, captain Virgil van Dijk and top-scorer Mohamed Salah throughout this season as all three players can leave Merseyside for nothing at the end of the campaign when their contracts run out.
But in Tuesday's pre-match press conference, manager Slot refused to be drawn on the England full-back's future, saying his focus is on recovering from the ankle injury that saw him limp out of the PSG second leg and then miss the cup final.
“His situation is unfortunately that he is injured, otherwise people would have probably spoken about him that he had one or two brilliant performances for the England team,” said the Dutch coach, whose team are 12 points clear of Arsenal at the top of the Premier League.
“But he's injured and for him that means he is fully focused on his recovery and for us that means we are trying to help him to be back as soon as he can.
“For the rest, of course, for eight months it went a bit up and down maybe, with all kinds of talks about him, Virgil or Mo. But we have never been focused on those talks, we have always been focused on what we have to do.
“For Virgil and Mo that is trying to win the Merseyside derby, and for Trent that is making sure he is can get fit as soon as he can.”
Throughout the season Slot has insisted that as long as all the trio's form is good then the transfer speculation is irrelevant – a line he returned to on Tuesday.
“It's a situation that is there for eight months now and all these three players have performed so well under these circumstances so it doesn't affect me at all," he added.
“There was a bit of noise about us losing against Paris Saint-Germain and us losing against Newcastle as well. I always try to be rational.
“I was a bit more frustrated about the final, because I think we deserved to lose that one. For the first time we deserved to lose a football game … we were outworked – and that's not what I like.”
It was a tough few days for Liverpool which saw the draining last-16 penalty shoot-out exit to an impressive PSG followed by a 2-1 loss to Newcastle – a scoreline that flattered Slot's side.
Despite those defeats, Liverpool can be proud of a superb Premier League campaign that has seen them lose just once in 29 games.
Lifting the trophy for only the second time in the Premier League era – and first since the 2019/20 season – would see Liverpool equal Manchester United's tally of 20 English titles.
And Slot is confident his side will be ready for the “nine finals” ahead that could see Liverpool match the all-time record of their fierce rivals.
“We are all looking so much forward to the upcoming nine [Premier League] games,” he sad. “Players are looking refreshed, in my opinion.
“But it wasn't all negative. We played a final against a very good Newcastle team and played a very good game in defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. We played the best game, in my opinion, but unfortunately lost on penalties.
“Now it is going to be nine finals. These games are very important for us, starting with Everton. Not only because it is the Merseyside derby but because we are in such a good position in the league.”
With Alexander-Arnold, regular understudy Conor Bradley and utility player Joe Gomez all unfit for the League Cup final, Jarell Quansah started against the Magpies and could well be called upon again for the Everton clash.
“Conor Bradley is with us again, but he's only had a few sessions after being out for quite long so we have to make a smart decision,” added Slot, who was sent off after the final whistle in the chaotic draw with Everton at Goodison Park on February 12.
