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Trent Alexander-Arnold (left) is leaving Liverpool but Mohamed Salah (centre) and Virgil van Dijk (right) are staying

Losing either Mohamed Salah or Virgil van Dijk would have been more difficult for Liverpool to replace next season than Trent Alexander-Arnold, says Manchester United great Gary Pallister.

And the former centre-back admits the Reds' status as Premier League champions is "obviously a worry" having seen United's tally of 20 equalled this term at Anfield.

Alexander-Arnold ended months of intense speculation on Monday morning by officially confirming he would be leaving his boyhood club at the end of the season when his contract expires.

The England international is set to join Real Madrid as a free agent but it was reported by the ECHO on Tuesday that the 15-time champions of Europe are trying to see if they can sign him before July 1 so he can feature in the revamped Club World Cup in the United States in June.

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It's unclear at this stage if Liverpool are open to such an offer but Pallister believes signing Salah and Van Dijk to their own respective two-year deals, which were both announced last month, are of more importance for the long term at Anfield.

“Losing Trent Alexander-Arnold is a big blow but fortunately for Liverpool they've managed to sort new contracts for Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah - it would’ve been a bigger blow to lose Van Dijk or Salah," Pallister told William Hill.

“Van Dijk has been pivotal to their success over the years – it was so important for them to get him signed up, if they want to go on and dominate for the next two or three years.”

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Pallister, who won four Premier League titles for United, added: “It's not going to be as easy for Liverpool next year.

"You would expect Manchester City to bounce back strongly under Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal will go out and buy new players too and become more of a threat.

"I also expect Chelsea to be more consistent.

“There is obviously a worry as a Manchester United fan that Liverpool can go on and dominate the Premier League for the next few seasons, but I don't see it.

“There are other teams in the league that, if they can add a couple of players to their squad, can get close to Liverpool.

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"I don't foresee next season being any easier for them.”


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