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With Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold edging dangerously close to the final six months of their Liverpool contracts, supporters continue to wait anxiously in hope that the Reds trio pen extensions to remain at Anfield.
They remain arguably the three first names on Arne Slot’s team sheet, after all.
Both Salah and Van Dijk might both be on the wrong side of 30 but the pair are showing no signs of slowing down
Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be repeatedly linked to Real Madrid, is miraculously still only 26 years old and coming into his prime.
Should the trio stay put at Anfield, news of their contract extensions would be celebrated wildly by the Reds fanbase.
But imagine a scenario where any of the trio sign a new long-term contract with Liverpool, only to find themselves then sold on only days later.
It’s a surreal concept, but that is exactly what happened to former Reds star Dominic Matteo back in the summer of 2000.
Matteo
“On the Monday, I was signing a five-year deal that, by the standards of the day, was a lucrative one. But, just four days later, I was on my way out of Liverpool,"
‘In My Defence’, “I was in shock. How could things change so quickly in just four days?
“The thought of leaving was an upsetting one. But, for the good of my career, I needed a fresh start. So, I went.
“It meant I missed out on all the trophies that Liverpool won the following season. I’ll admit that seeing the lads pick up the FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA Cup was difficult."
Matteo had just enjoyed his most successful season yet for Liverpool in 1999/00, starting 32 times in the Premier League and recording six assists.
But Gerard Houllier’s decision to pursue Christian Ziege from Middlesbrough, despite handing the Scotland international a new long-term contract, proved to be the death knell on his Reds career.
Matteo admits he was heartbroken to leave Liverpool.
Matteo recalls
“When I left Liverpool, I had five years left on my contract,”
“I didn't think I was going anywhere, but I didn't think I was going to get the game time again.
“The reason why I left was because of that. There was no other reason.
“I wanted to stay, but I wasn't going to get the game time. I thought I couldn’t have another three or four years of not playing. It just wasn’t what I wanted.
“So Gerard had to make a call. You have to make calls and I think he definitely wanted to keep me. No two ways about that.
“I generally thought I would play ahead of Ziege in my own head, because you have got to have that confidence about yourself.
“I wasn’t being cocky, I just thought I could match that. And I could play numerous positions as well, which I always thought was a help.”
“If you look at that the year before, I was probably one of the best players! I didn’t miss many games.
“And obviously Liverpool just missed out on the Champions League that year.
“We lost at Bradford of all places, 1-0. But things could have been different. I think if we'd won that game, would I stay? Maybe. You know, I might stayed.
“I don't know, but obviously, again, it was about playing that next season.”
Ziege would actually end up flopping at Anfield was sold to Tottenham Hotspur after just one season, while Matteo established himself as a firm fan-favourite at Leeds United.
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