Liverpool are close to reaping the benefits of not cashing in on some of their most prized possessions in recent transfer markets
Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah celebrates with team-mate Darwin Nunez(Image: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez all stand on the verge of lifting aloft the Premier League trophy. But it doesn't take a major leap of imagination to envisage their title battles could have been taking place elsewhere at present.
Had Real Madrid had their way, Alexander-Arnold would be at the Bernabeu attempting to chase down La Liga leaders Barcelona having moved to Spain in January.
Salah, meanwhile, would have long been in Saudi Arabia, with Al-Ittihad having lodged an eyewatering £150million bid for the Egyptian's services in September 2023.
And Nunez could also easily have been operating in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Hilal had Liverpool been more receptive to an approach towards the end of the January transfer window.
The decision not to sell Nunez, despite the Uruguay international having increasingly fallen down the pecking order in Arne Slot's attack, goes some way to dismissing suggestions from Portugal this week that Liverpool are opting not to start the striker again this season to avoid handing over another €5m to Benfica as part of the deal that took him to Anfield almost three years ago.
Had the Reds really wanted to save money on Nunez, the club would have been open to talks over selling the player in the New Year.
But that they rebuffed interest underlined a policy that has become evident during the last few years of refusing to cash in on their players at the risk of compromising the ability to challenge for honours.
It's precisely why Real Madrid were not offered any encouragement when they made an approach for Alexander-Arnold over the Christmas period in the hope of snaffling the player for a nominal fee six months before the scheduled expiry of his contract.
Given Alexander-Arnold notched the winner at Leicester City on Sunday afternoon to move Liverpool within three points of the title - and had been in impressive form before the ankle injury from which he returned at the weekend after almost six weeks out - it appears to have been a wise move.
Alexander-Arnold, of course, could yet end up at Real Madrid in the summer as he ponders an offer from the European Super League advocates. Liverpool haven't given up hope of him penning a new deal at Anfield.
There will be on such concerns over Salah, who earlier this month agreed a new two-year contract extension having also been due to become a free agent at the end of the season. Since Liverpool rejected the mammoth offer from Saudi Arabia, Salah has made 88 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 56 goals and contributing 35 assists. Few would argue against the right decision having been made.
Nunez is in a slightly different situation in that, unlike Alexander-Arnold and Salah, he was not a regular when the transfer interest was forthcoming. Liverpool's insistence he stayed put, though, was perhaps the greatest indication they wanted to give Arne Slot every chance of having a squad capable of competing for major honours in the second half of the season.
With the Saudi Pro League expected to rekindle their interest at the end of the season - Al-Hilal may make a swift move given their involvement in the summer FIFA Club World Cup - Liverpool could be asked another question of Nunez sooner rather than later.
But that any departure is likely to be as a Premier League winner is again evidence of a canny call from the club not to sell in January.