‘We only react to rumours when facts need to be told’

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot says he will not “react to rumours” over his future and a potential end to goalkeeper Alisson’s eight-year stay at the club.

Brazil international Alisson and Dutchman Slot are out of contract in 2027, with the 33-year-old linked this week with a move to Italy and the former Feyenoord manager coming under pressure this season after failing to near the heights of his Premier League-winning first campaign in 2024/25.

“I am only focused on the short-term future, which is getting him back into goal as soon as possible,” said of the injured Alisson, who has won the Champions League and every major domestic trophy at least once at Anfield.

“All these rumours that are out there, about him, about me and about others – we don’t react to rumours in this room.

“We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment.”

Will Alisson leave Liverpool this summer?

Liverpool triggered a clause in March to extend Alisson’s deal by a season, making a report suggesting he wants to leave a surprise.

Juventus want to sign “a top goalkeeper” this summer and see Alisson as a “dream target”, according to Fabrizio Romano.

The transfer journalist claimed Alisson “likes the idea of returning to Italy” and “wants to assess his future” with Liverpool.

Having come through the ranks at Brazilian side Internacional, Alisson joined Roma in 2016 and left the Serie A side for Liverpool for £67 million in July 2018.

Will Arne Slot be at Liverpool next season?

Liverpool cantered to Premier League glory under Slot last season but have struggled since winning their first five matches in 2025/26 – a run they followed with six defeats in seven league games to put the Reds well out of contention to defend their title.

They won one of their first seven games of the calendar year, were thrashed 4-0 at Manchester City in the FA Cup quarter-finals and lost both legs 2-0 in their last-eight Champions League tie with Paris Saint-Germain.

Having started March with one point from a possible nine, consecutive victories at home to Fulham and away to Everton – Virgil van Dijk scoring a 100th-minute winner in the derby – mean Liverpool need a maximum of eight points from their remaining five games to guarantee Champions League qualification.

“As I’ve said so many times, I’m mainly here for the short and mid-to-long term,” said Slot, whose side could finish as high as third.

“Mainly, my time is spent on the short-term. There are conversations going on about next season, but my complete focus is – and should be – on this season, because the margins are small, and one or two results can make a big difference.

“Two weeks ago, we weren’t five points clear [as Liverpool are now] of sixth position, and now we are. It can go both ways.

“In the last eight league games, we’ve picked up 16 points. It doesn’t always feel like that, because in between we’ve had to play Paris Saint-Germain and Man City. But our recent league form is acceptable.”

Slot is odds-on with bookmakers to retain his position at the start of next season. The likes of former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, who enjoyed stratospheric success at Bayer Leverkusen but was sacked by Real Madrid after a brief spell in charge of the Spanish giants this season, could be in contention to succeed the 47-year-old if Liverpool opt for a change.

Alisson injury: Will goalkeeper play for Liverpool vs Palace?

Alisson has missed Liverpool’s last six matches in all competitions with his second hamstring injury of the season.

Slot said his first-choice goalkeeper could return at home to Crystal Palace in the Premier League on Saturday but established understudy Giorgi Mamardashvili is out with a knee injury sustained against Everton.

Slot praised third-choice goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, a Palace fan and former Eagles academy player who will deputise if Alisson remains unavailable.

What’s next? Liverpool fixtures, schedule

Liverpool will attempt to beat Palace for the first time this season at the fourth attempt, having lost the fixture on penalties in the Community Shield at Wembley Stadium, 2-1 in the Premier League at Selhurst Park in September and 3-0 at Anfield in the EFL Cup fourth round in October.

Here’s how Liverpool’s remaining fixtures look.