Moments after Liverpool sealed their record-equalling 20th English top-flight title, new manager Arne Slot paid heartfelt tribute to his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, crediting the German for laying the foundation for their triumph.
Slot’s Liverpool crushed Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at Anfield to claim their first Premier League title under the Dutchman, who became the first coach from the Netherlands to achieve the feat.
“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 said to LFCTV, immediately breaking into a version of the song Klopp had asked fans to sing after his farewell game last May — only this time replacing ‘Arne Slot’ with ‘Jurgen Klopp’.
Speaking to BBC’s Match of the Day, Slot added: “I am 99.9% sure there’s already a message from Jurgen on my phone. Throughout the season, we kept in touch several times. It just shows what a wonderful human being he is, not just by welcoming me but by the team he left behind — a team capable of winning the trophy.”
Slot also praised Klopp and former assistant Pep Lijnders for the culture and standards they built at Liverpool. “The work Jurgen and Pep did — the culture, the work-rate, the quality — was outstanding,” he told Sky Sports.
Even Slot admitted he hadn’t expected such immediate success, especially given the strength of Manchester City in recent years. “When the season started, top four would have been considered a great result. But the players proved they were capable of much more,” he reflected.
Despite Dominic Solanke giving Spurs a shock early lead, Slot said there was never any panic among the players or fans. “From the moment we arrived on the bus, you could feel we weren’t going to lose,” he told BBC. “Even at 1-0 down, the belief was everywhere.”
In a message to LFCTV, Slot added: “This team always finds a way to win. I’m incredibly proud — not just of the players but everyone behind the scenes. Let’s not say it’s only the second title in 35 years — it’s the second in five years.”
