Arne Slot issues blunt response after claims he could cost Liverpool millions

Arne Slot insists he’s never been told not to play someone at down to financial reasons. The Reds boss has no idea if reports from Portugal are true surrounding after then it will trigger a further payment to Benfica of around £4.2million.

Nunez has not featured for the Reds since at the start of the month. He was not in the squad for a win at home over and remained on the bench last week at .

That could be just mere coincidence given his poor form in front of goal. Slot said: “Do you always believe what journalists say? Not always? Me neither.

“Sometimes you should, but sometimes it’s better not to believe everything that is written about players. This is completely new to me and I’ve said many times that I’m working at a club here where it’s really nice to work.

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“So mainly sporting directors are judged by the players they bring in, for me it’s very important to have a great working environment and I have that with Richard [Hughes]. The last, last, last, last, last thing he would do, as I expect working with him for 10 months, is tell me: ‘If you play him it would cost us this much’.

“That, he would never, never, never do. I don’t even know if it’s true, yes or no, because we never talk about that. He never interferes with a lineup. It might be true, but if a journalist says it we have to..... (take it with a pinch of salt?).”

Liverpool can win the title on Sunday if they get a point at home against . Reds fans are counting down the hours ahead of what could be a special title celebration on Merseyside as they prepare to clinch their 20th league crown.

But Dutchman Slot is not getting carried away. He said: “I get these questions then it comes to your mind, of course. But that's the last thing you think about as a manager at this point of time.

“The only thing I think about is that hopefully all the players are available and prepare them. I know how hard it was to win against a team that was close to relegation.

“It was hard to get the win over the line. I am not getting carried away at all. We've faced Tottenham already three times, I know how hard it is to beat them for us. That is where my main focus is on."

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