Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has urged everyone “to stay calm” as fears over the future of three key players grow after announcing his own intention to leave the club.
Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires in 18 months, says doesn’t know if he will remain at Anfield once Klopp is gone. Mo Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold will also see their current deals run out in summer 2025.
“The boys love this place. I know that for a fact,” said Klopp ahead of Wednesday’s game against Chelsea. “It’s not that they have one foot out.”
“The club knew about my departure already for a while. They could have used the time and tied the players down [to new deals].
“Then I say, ‘by the way, I’m not here anymore’ and they say, ‘nobody told us that’. You cannot work like that, especially not with the relationship we have.
“There’s enough time to do everything.”
Klopp added: “It was always clear that the outside world would not give you a second to process it. It’s just the next thing, ‘what are you doing?’
“Give us a break. If I’m here we need to create a perspective and what’s happening next and stuff like this. That’s completely normal.
“Nobody has to worry. I knew it would happen because you [media] cannot wait for these type of questions.
“This club is stable, 100 percent, and everything will be fine, I’m 100 percent sure.
“We have to get through this, get through your questions and we have to give some answers. That’s how it is.
“Our people, I would recommend to stay calm.
“There is nothing to worry about in this moment in time. We are in this season and all these talks could be part of a possible distraction for this season.
“The boys have to think about things, that’s a human right. That’s what you should do just before you make a decision about whatever and that’s completely normal.”
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