“It’s absolutely criminal how they’ve let this situation drag on. The club’s decision-makers should be ashamed of themselves!” – A Sky Sports pundit has launched a scathing attack on Liverpool’s hierarchy, blasting them for their mishandling of expiring contracts.

Only 32 days remain before three of Liverpool’s key players with expiring contracts can begin negotiations with overseas clubs, putting Europe’s top teams on alert for the chance to secure world-class talent for free.

This looming deadline spells trouble for Liverpool, who have relied on Mo Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and Trent Alexander-Arnold as the backbone of their success for nearly a decade.

It’s no surprise, then, that Paul Merson has expressed strong criticism over how the situation has been handled.

Liverpool slammed for mishandling contract renewals

Sky Sports pundit Merson didn’t hold back, calling Liverpool’s handling of the contract saga “pathetic” and “criminal” in a column for Sportskeeda.

“What is happening at Liverpool is a joke; in footballing terms, it’s criminal,” the former Arsenal player wrote. “The people in charge who are letting three of their best players run down their contracts like this should take a look at themselves because it is pathetic! This situation should have been nipped in the bud a year and a half ago or something.”

Positive signs for some, but uncertainty lingers

Insiders suggest discussions with Salah’s representatives are progressing positively, though no formal offer has yet been tabled. Meanwhile, Virgil van Dijk is reportedly eager to extend his stay, with negotiations said to be moving in the right direction.

The big question mark surrounds Trent Alexander-Arnold. While his impressive midweek performance in the 2-0 victory over Real Madrid demonstrated his importance to the team, it remains unclear if such displays will convince him to commit to a future at Anfield.

With a high-stakes clash against title rivals Manchester City at Anfield on Sunday, the timing of this contract uncertainty couldn’t be worse for the Reds.