Liverpool do not need to mention Mohamed Salah's class, but when the striker made a substitution to assist Cody Gakpo to score in the 5-0 win over West Ham, the question arose, why hasn't the 32-year-old been offered a contract extension?
Trent Alexander-Arnold did the same, scoring in the 55th minute to help Arne Slot's side increase the gap to four goals.
This was Liverpool's easiest win against a West Ham side that lacked vitality. These 3 points also helped them extend their unbeaten streak to 23 matches in all competitions. And most importantly, this is the time when Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk have emphasized their importance at Anfield.
Salah and Alexander-Arnold have attracted attention with their direct contributions to goals. However, Van Dijk's role as a defensive commander is equally important. Especially in the early stages of the game when West Ham showed signs of revival and threatened to score.
In midweek, Salah, Alexander-Arnold and Van Dijk will be free to speak to clubs outside England as their Anfield contracts are set to expire.
"The only thing on my mind is to want Liverpool to win the league and I want to be a part of that. I will try my best to help the team win the trophy. There are a few other teams catching up with us and we need to focus, be humble and continue to move forward" - Salah replied when asked about the future.
Uncertainty over the futures of key players has plagued Liverpool since the start of the season. The Kop fans are waiting for any updates, even minor ones, to give a signal on whether the team's stars will extend their contracts.
Despite doubts about Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool are still not confused and do not seem to be distracted by the story of whether they will stay or leave.
But things could get messy, and how Liverpool deal with speculation in the coming months could be the only problem that could steer them away from their title.
It seems like an unlikely prospect at the moment. Slot and his players have been much better than the rest of the season so far. Liverpool are also 3 points ahead of the chasing group in the Champions League.
However, the noise off the pitch could become a distraction, especially if that coincides with a run of poor results. Those are all problems Liverpool will have to face in the coming weeks and months. There will be huge financial risks for each of the above stars, given the salary Liverpool have to pay or the amount of money to find a replacement.
