Arne Slot insists Mohamed Salah’s comments about his future are not a distraction ahead of Liverpool’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid at Anfield on Wednesday as he joked: “If I look at my line ups then Mo is more in than out!

The issue dominated Liverpool's news conference ahead of Wednesday's match against Real Madrid in the Champions League, with Slot keen to play down any friction with Salah — and even suggested the situation is making the winger play as well as ever.

He is so, so important to the way that Liverpool play," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live breakfast. "He is in incredible physical condition, he is in unbelievable shape, we know he is 32 so the underlying issue seems to be Liverpool don't like to give longer contracts out to players who are over 30.

Enjoy live updates from Wednesday's Champions League action as Liverpool host Real Madrid in a heavyweight clash and Aston Villa take on Juventus.