Arne Slot has moved to shut down mounting speculation over Alisson Becker’s future at Liverpool, insisting the goalkeeper’s focus remains firmly on returning from injury and playing for a club he “loves.”

Alisson recently had a one-year option triggered in his contract, extending his deal at Anfield to 2027. Despite that, reports have linked the Brazil international with a summer move to Juventus, prompting questions over whether Liverpool might be prepared to cash in on one of their most influential players.

Slot, however, refused to entertain talk of an exit when he addressed the media before Liverpool’s Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace. The head coach stressed that neither he nor sporting director Richard Hughes were engaging with transfer rumours at this stage.

“I am only focused on the short-term future and that is getting him back into goal as soon as possible,” Slot said. “All these rumours that are out there about him and about probably me and about others, we don’t react to rumours in this room, also not in my conversations with Richard.”

He underlined that there had been no change in the club’s stance and no concrete developments to discuss. “We only react when facts need to be told and that is not the situation at the moment,” Slot added. “The main focus for Ali is very clear, that is getting back in goal as soon as possible for the club he loves to play for and then he wants to be in goal for the country he wants to play for, that is Brazil. I think that is already the short and mid-term future.”

Alisson has been sidelined for more than a month with a muscle problem and faces a race to be fit for the visit of Palace. With first-choice understudy Giorgi Mamardashvili also injured in the win over Everton, Freddie Woodman is in line to start if Alisson is not passed fit.

Liverpool’s injury concerns extend beyond the goalkeeping department. Striker Hugo Ekitike is set for a lengthy spell out after undergoing surgery on an Achilles problem.

“The surgery went well,” Slot confirmed. “That is the first and important step he had to make. It is going to take a long time, they will tell you multiple months. Then it all depends on how rehab goes. He is a very explosive player, that is usually not helpful if you have this injury but maybe he is the exception.”

Slot pointed to other long-term absentees, highlighting defender Giovanni Leoni’s physical transformation during his own recovery, as evidence that players can return stronger after serious setbacks.