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• Salah's contract 'up to him and the club', says Slot

  Arne Slot has asserted Mohamed Salah’s future is “up to him and the club”.

  The Liverpool star has yet to make a decision on whether to renew his contract, and as it stands, will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season.

  Salah remains a key player for the Reds, and leads the club for Premier League goals (seven) and assists (five) this term.

  He scored the winner in the 72nd minute to complete Liverpool’s comeback against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday, as they moved to the top of the table.

  And despite the question marks over Salah's future, Slot is not concerned.

  "[His future] is not what I think about. The only thing I think about is he is so important for us. Scores important goals, works hard for the team," the Liverpool boss told TNT Sports.

  "I’m hoping he can enjoy that feeling many, many, many more times. Especially if I’m here but also if I’m not here. I’m hoping he can do this many more times.

  "He’s been incredible for Liverpool over the past eight years. He’s been incredible for us this season and I hope he can continue doing this for the rest of the season and maybe longer to come, but that’s up to him and the club to find the idea about the future."

  Salah could be in for a historic night on Tuesday when Liverpool face Bayer Leverkusen, having scored in each of his last five Champions League appearances at Anfield.

  The last player to score in six consecutive home games in the competition for an English club was Ruud van Nistelrooy for Manchester United in April 2003.

  Salah sparked renewed talk over his future after posting on Instagram on Sunday, saying that the feeling of scoring at Anfield would remain unforgettable “no matter what happens.”

  But Slot was keen to quash any deeper meaning in the post.

  "I haven’t spoken to him about that. You interpreted it in a way that maybe other people don’t," he told the press.

  "I don’t look at Instagram posts of my players, I only talk to them which you can’t, which is the advantage I have.

  "Mo is in a very good place at the moment. As long as he has been at Liverpool, he has been in a very good place, but this season again as well. I am hoping he will make a post after tomorrow and on Saturday again. What he said with that, that is not important.

  "For me what is important is how he plays and what he tells me when we have conversations. That is what matters and not how you guys interpret one of his posts."

• Guardiola expecting challenging season for injury-hit Man City

  Pep Guardiola believes Manchester City's current injury problems will make it harder for them to repeat the success of recent years.

  Depleted by a number of injuries to key players, the Premier League champions saw a 32-game unbeaten league run ended by a loss at Bournemouth on Saturday after a midweek reverse at Tottenham in the EFL Cup fourth round, marking the first time City have lost successive matches in all competitions since September 2023.

  While Guardiola says he is aware of the expectations surrounding his team, he knew they were likely to suffer more defeats due to injuries and the increasing level of their opponents. 

  "I know our standards, but we've lost just one game. Maybe we are going to lose again in the Premier League against Brighton and against Tottenham and against Liverpool," Guardiola told reporters, referring to their next three Premier League games.

  "We are just two points behind Liverpool, who are a top-class team. We've started well in the Champions League, but I know people expect us to win 38 league games and win the treble every season as these are our standards.

  "The reason it is difficult is because we have had a lot of absentees, which can happen in some seasons.

  "Sometimes, to win the treble, everything has to be on the same page with injuries, but this is not possible this time. The teams are very strong and everything is more difficult, and we have to accept that. That is the challenge."

  City will be without Ballon d'Or winner Rodrigo and Oscar Bobb for most of the campaign, while John Stones, Jack Grealish and Ruben Dias remain sidelined and have not travelled to Portugal.

  Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Kyle Walker still have problems despite being in the squad, Guardiola said, and Kevin De Bruyne and Savinho are improving, while Erling Haaland is fit.

  City sit third in the Champions League standings after two wins and a draw and are looking for a third consecutive European win at Portuguese champions Sporting CP, who are eighth but also have seven points and are unbeaten across all competitions this season.

  Guardiola's side claimed a resounding 5-0 win at Sporting when they met in the 2022 Champions League last 16, and are looking to extend their record run of unbeaten games to 27 in the competition.

  "They play quite similar like we faced two seasons ago, the pattern is so clear," Guardiola added.

  "They have changed players but have the same manager and same mentality," he said, referring to Sporting boss Ruben Amorim, who will take over at Manchester United at the start of the international break.

• Returning fan favourite Alonso calls Liverpool 'one of Europe's best'

  Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso hailed his former club Liverpool as "one of Europe's best" as he prepares for his Anfield return.

  Alonso, who spent five successful years at Anfield and helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, returns to his former stomping ground when Leverkusen take on the Reds on Tuesday.

  Arne Slot has won 12 of his first 14 matches in charge of Liverpool, including all three in the Champions League so far.

  Leverkusen have only won one of their 11 away major European matches in England (D3 L7), and have lost their last two visits to Anfield, and Alonso is under no illusion as to the scale of the task that awaits the reigning Bundesliga champions.

  "For us, it is a big challenge," he said.

  "Liverpool at the moment are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe, they are showing that in the Premier League and Champions League, a good squad, great coach. We're looking forward to it. Let's see what happens.

  "You can play 70 minutes great but in 20 minutes it [the game] is gone, so it is mentally and emotionally we need to be ready.

  "In all areas, they are really strong, so the process works really well. [Slot] has done a fantastic job in three months."

  Alonso played 210 times across all competitions for Liverpool between 2004 and 2009, scoring 18 goals and providing 20 assists. 

  After winning the Champions League with the Reds in 2005, he helped them reach the final in 2007, though they lost to Milan on that occasion.

  However, the Spaniard does not think he will have too much time for a trip down memory lane.

  "Unfortunately, there is no time for tourism – maybe a little run or walk," he said.

  "I know the city very well, I love it, but tomorrow I will focus on the game and only the game.

  "It feels great to be back here after a few years. It's always special. You notice the development of the club; the new stand looks amazing.

  "It is a big game against Liverpool, it cannot get much better than that."

  The omens are not great for Leverkusen, though.

  Liverpool have lost one of their last 21 European meetings with German opponents (W14 D6), albeit that one defeat came against Leverkusen in 2002.