Liverpool has won the Premier League before, of course, but it has not been able to celebrate it how it will, assuming Arne Slot’s side gets over the line this season, in just a few weeks’ time. Sitting 12 points clear with nine games left, it shouldn’t be too far away now.
With Mohamed Salah firing in the goals and Virgil van Dijk back to his best, Liverpool has proven too strong for its rivals. Arsenal failed to kick on and Manchester City dropped off a cliff. As both its main rivals toiled, Liverpool pulled further and further ahead.
Jurgen Klopp, though, now working as Red Bull’s head of global soccer, more than played his part. Slot has done superbly and the transition has been as smooth as anyone could have hoped, but it was the German who left behind a roster ready to take the next step with some fresh energy and impetus.
It is for that reason that Klopp will be as deserving as anyone else if and when Liverpool gets over the line. It was his work that paved the way for what came next as he unselfishly stepped aside with his players still on the ascent to their peak.
“The plan is [to be in Liverpool] but not on the bus, I will be there with the people I saw on the bus [when Liverpool had their last trophy parade],” Klopp said when discussing a potential trophy parade a few weeks ago. “That’s the idea to be honest, but we will see.
“I think I will be there for the last game. I didn’t want to go earlier to be honest because I didn’t want to jinx it all the time. If I’m in the stadium for the first time and they lose. So I go there when it’s decided.”
(Image: Gisela Schober/Getty Images)
Klopp and Slot have been in touch sporadically throughout the season and it doesn’t feel that long since the latter was leading the chants for his successor before that plan had even been made public.
“It’s so nice that I had the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful club for so long,” Klopp said. “The club is so big so wherever you go, fans are already there.
“I’m so proud of that and I’m so we finished the way we did. I’m so happy they’re doing as well as they’re doing now. I texted with Arne [after Liverpool’s 1-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain] so we are really in good contact.”
It seems inevitable at this stage that Liverpool will be parading the league trophy around the city in May. Klopp has already made plans to get involved — and quite right too.
