Chijioke Gabriel
Liverpool manager Arne Slot paid glowing tribute to his predecessor Jurgen Klopp moments after his side won the Premier League title.The Reds defeated Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield on Sunday to clinch a record-equalling 20th top-flight title, with Slot becoming the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League. “It feels great. I don’t think I want to say a lot. The only thing now is to send my appreciation to Jurgen Klopp,” Slot, who replaced Klopp as Liverpool manager last summer, told LFCTV.
The 46-year-old immediately launched into a rendition of the song Klopp asked Liverpool fans to sing after his final game last May, but replaced the lyrics ‘Arne Slot’ with ‘Jurgen Klopp’. “I am 99.9% sure that if I pick up my phone there will be a message from Jurgen,” he told BBC Match of the Day. “So many moments in the season the two of us have had contact. I think he showed last season what a wonderful human being he is by introducing me.” But what mattered most is the team he left behind that was able to win the trophy.”Slot, speaking to Sky Sports, added: “The work Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders] did – the culture, work-rate, quality – was outstanding,”Few expected Slot to oversee a successful title charge in his first season at Anfield, not least the man himself.
“We started really well and maybe it helped that [Manchester] City had a difficult spell that they have not had in five years,” he said.”
When the season started, we would have been happy with top four. But I don’t think that is fair on the players as they are much better than that and they have shown it this season.
“Dominic Solanke gave Spurs a surprise lead at Anfield, but Slot had no doubts his side would turn things around.”
I think from the moment we arrived on the bus everyone could feel that we were never going to lose this game,” he told BBC Match of the Day.” The fans were so supportive before and during the game. Even at 1-0 down you felt this team and the fans could get it over the line.”He told LFCTV: “They always find a way to win. I’m incredibly proud, not only of the players but the people standing here, sport directors, my staff members, we should give them a big round of applause.”Let’s forget it’s the second title in 35 years… it’s the second in five years.”
Liverpool last won the Premier League five years ago, but the Coronavirus pandemic meant there were no fans inside Anfield to witness it.For fans and players alike, a first title win in front of supporters since 1990 is something special.
