Arne Slot declared Mohamed Salah “more in than out” of his Liverpool plans as he suggested the Anfield contract wrangle is bringing the best out of the superstar winger.

Salah’s recent remarks suggesting he is “disappointed” by the club’s failure to offer a new deal have threatened to overshadow a huge week at Anfield, which hosts Real Madrid and Manchester City.

But in a twist of Salah’s remark that he is “more out than in” as he approaches the end of his contract, Slot sought to downplay the significance of the player’s comments.

“The only thing I can say is that if I look at my line-ups, Mo is more in than out. So that quote I can give you,” said Slot. “I don’t think that he is distracted at all. He is fully focused on the game tomorrow.

“If you had been at the Axa [training centre] today I don’t think any player talked about it – at least not while I was there. Players always give each other stick so maybe they did this now, but players are also focused on the short term and that is Madrid and that is City.”

‘Mo is in a good place at the moment’

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher accused Salah of being “selfish” by guaranteeing his future tops the agenda rather than the forthcoming marquee fixtures.

“I focus a bit more on what else he [Carragher] said – he said Mo was one of the five best players Liverpool ever had and I completely agree with him, which is not an easy thing as there have been many great players at this club,” said Slot.

“I don’t think it distracts Mo at all, maybe it even brings the best out of him if you look at his performances until now. Like I’ve said a few times already, my focus is the next game and if we had that game, another big game is coming up and it just keeps on going.

“I talk to Mo about what I expect from him, like I do with all the other players, and he is in a good place at the moment. I’m not distracted by his comments and I don’t feel his team-mates are.”